We are in to Dengue Season 2009 and the signs of things to come are not good.
Like clock-work, whether the people monitoring such events take notice or not, we have been, year after year, exposed to September-November Dengue peaks for the past many years.
The exact data is held elsewhere and not readily available to the public. Perhaps the numbers this year have not reached that critical level for the monitoring system to ring out alarms. What I am stating is a clear observation that my colleagues and I have been noting for the past many years. I was going to say that this year is no different. It is similar in that the peaks is here. But it is worryingly different too; the severity of the cases are significantly higher than usual. We have had more than a few cases already this year when we (and the families) literally held our breaths. We have largely done very well and we have been a bit lucky as well; we have escaped without a mortality. May Allah keep it that way, Ameen.
I am nonetheless very concerned. I fail to see an appropriate response from public health authorities, the media and even concerned public to this almost predictable public health emergency. I have talked to media personnel many times over the past few weeks. They are mostly interested in other, apparently news-worthy, topics and not so interested in information and concerns related to service-crisis at public healthcare institutes or emerging medical public health concerns such as this. I hope at least some of the reporters I have spoken to would write about these issues and increase public awareness and call them and the authorities to action.
The control of Dengue fever requires mosquito control measures such as clearing their breeding micro-environments and use of personal mosquito repellents and barriers. I would urge all readers to share this information with their contacts and get everyone working towards prevention of mosquito breeding in their home environment. We can all do our bit. Prevent water-logging in our household; in empty cans, rooftops, drains, gardens, wells, construction sites, etc. Similar water-logging in public places such as state buildings, parks, construction and work sites must be addressed by the concerned authorities. Such water-logged micro-environments are used by mosquitoes to breed their progeny.
With Dengue peaks being so predictable we could come up with "pre-season" activities to create awareness and conduct activities to prevent the peaks rather than, year after year, just respond to a crisis.
The rainy season will soon be upon us. Perhaps it is not too late already.
public shud know that this mosquito usually bites during daytime and its important to take measures in the afternoon and evening too...
and i believe construction sites are the main source of the mosquitoes..
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This is an important issue that needs to be addressed immediately. I will spread the message and hope that people take the measures to prevent the disease as you have described. Thank you. Found this blog through SImon's blog.
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a group of women came to my house and ordered my very salty water well to be covered as it might breed mosquitoes. my rain water tank is covered. but the drain outside on the road is waterlogged. i thought denque mosquitoes breeded in fresh water and not salt water. dont these people from public health know?
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I believe this too to be an issue of miscommunication. Yes, Aedes preferentially breed in "clean, still fresh water". The reason why the Vector Control Unit of DPH (which has now become CCHDC) used to recommend covering the house well was that it was a common breeding ground for mosquitoes.
With the well water becoming highly saline this maybe less of a problem. However, unless very saline, it could still be a breeding ground! This is especially the case with rainy seasons when the wells alos act as the "drainage" of the rain water caught by the house hold roofs.
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