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"It
is critical for countries to strengthen their health systems for
prediction, early detection, preparedness and early response to
dengue outbreaks," said Dr Samlee Plianbangchang, WHO
South-East Asia Regional Director, at a WHO meeting to review
and endorse the 'Strategic Framework for the Prevention and
Control of Dengue' in the Asia-Pacific region.
In
India Dengue is the leading cause of hospitalisation and death
among children. Increasingly every year, regular outbreaks of
mosquito-borne diseases across India leave scores of people dead
and swamped hospitals and clinics, exposing the country's
appalling public health system. Last year in 2006, three members
of the Prime Minister's family were taken to hospital suffering
with high fever, a dengue symptom, sparking grave concern and
media spotlight.
"The
fever is not always fatal but in extreme cases patients might
need a blood transfusion to replace platelets and stabilise
internal organs. When a patient's platelet count drops the
blood's clotting property diminishes and this raises the
possibility of continuous bleeding and eventual death. The cost
of hospitalisation and treatment is high, especially when a
blood transfusion is required," said Dr Rishi Sethi, MD,
DM, of King George's Medical University.
Dengue
fever is an infectious disease, transmitted by mosquitoes and
found in hot and humid climates. Dengue transcends international
boundaries and is an acute problem, with about 75% of the
population in the Asia-Pacific region at risk.
WHO
appealed to governments of Asian countries to accelerate key
interventions in the control of dengue, which include policy and
regulatory support and partnerships within the health sector and
with other ministries such as the environment, education, law
and tourism.
Several
countries in the region are already facing an unprecedented
increase in dengue cases this year. Indonesia
is
reporting over one hundred thousand cases, which is a 10%
increase from the numbers reported last year. Myanmar has seen a
33% increase reporting 11,577 cases so far this year and
Thailand has 40,258 cases this year, an increase of 27%. Bhutan
reported its first case in 2004 and has seen a gradual increase
in the numbers; and Nepal reported its first case in 2006.
Countries
must implement a national strategy that will eliminate breeding
places of the mosquito vector. Seeking early care and the
provision of standard case management in health facilities and
hospitals can reduce deaths due to dengue hemorrhagic fever.
Dengue
is a man-made problem, which is linked to globalisation, rapid
unplanned and unregulated urban development, improper water
storage and unsatisfactory sanitary conditions, which provide
breeding grounds for the mosquito. Movement of people to and
from urban areas is another major factor.
The
dengue virus spreads through the bite of the infectious female
Aedes mosquito, primarily Aedes aegypti, which breeds in
artificial containers and improperly, managed garbage where
clean or clear water accumulates. Because dengue is an
ecological disease, prevention is the key to effective control.
Individuals
can take simple steps such as emptying all water containers at
least once a week and ridding their surroundings of containers
that collect rainwater, which will help to prevent the laying of
eggs by the mosquitoes that are the dengue vector.
September
2007
(Bobby Ramakant is a
public health and development Journalist, a part of The Key
Correspondent Team coordinated by Health
and Development Networks. Website: www.TheCorrespondent.org
email: bobby@hdnet.org)
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