Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever: Control measures against the disease being accelerated

Dengue fever is commonly found in children under 15 but older people can also suffer from it. The Department of Public Health in Yangon warned of the protection and preventive measures against the dengue hemorrhagic fever which occurs during rainy season, urging the public to help prevent the spread of the mosquito-borne disease.

Dr. Pwint Phyu Phyu, Assistant Director, Department of Public Health (Yangon) said "Dengue is caused by a virus that is mostly transmitted by the bite of female mosquitoes of the species Aedes and it’s started during rainy season. According to the records, there were 341 hospitalized patients and 1 patient died due to the dengue hemorrhagic fever until the end of April this year. In compared with last year’s record, we found that the number of patients has increased this year. We are doing preventive measures before rainy season and opening the schools. We also clean the school compound and no more mosquito-borne disease. We need to keep cleaning the water container such as storage of purified water and rain water."

Dengue is the most widely distributed mosquito-borne viral disease in the world and it can spread rapidly. Dengue hemorrhagic fever symptoms include a fever that lasts from two to seven days, persistent vomiting, several abdominal pain and difficulty in breathing. 

Dr. Pwint Phyu Phyu, Assistant Director, Department of Public Health (Yangon) said "Dengue can result in serious shock and death above the age of 15. This disease has to taking care of any age. We need to take cleaning process for our home compound once a week and conduct measures for the control of mosquitos. Now, our department is conducting preventive measures against dengue hemorrhagic fever starting May."

The Public Health Department have been planning to accelerate preventive and control measures against Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever and public participation is very important to achieve the plans from Ministry of Health in dengue fever control, the official added.