The Manggarai Barat district authorities have started spraying insecticide (fogging) to kill mosquitoes to prevent a spike in dengue fever cases in the region.
“In addition to spraying temefos, we have fogged densely-populated areas to kill adult mosquitoes,” Manggarai Barat deputy district head Yulianus Weng said in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, on Tuesday.
Weng asked health workers to respond to suspected cases of dengue fever.
“The health center must immediately conduct an epidemiological investigation. Thus, the handling can be quick and on-target,” he affirmed.
According to Weng, in areas where many mosquitoes larvae are found, workers will come down to spray temefos. However, in areas that have many adult mosquitoes, fogging will be undertaken, he said.
The government has been trying to reduce the number of dengue cases to prevent deaths, he said. Health workers have initiated fumigation in densely populated areas with the most cases of dengue fever, he informed.
As per data from the Manggarai Barat Health Office, the trend of dengue fever has fluctuated in November 2021. On November 15, the number of positive cases reached 18, while they were zero on November 14; however, 17 cases were recorded on November 13, Weng noted.
Since January 2021, the number of cases has continued to increase to reach 15 in September, 78 in October, and 151 until November 16, he said.
The total positive and suspected cases of dengue fever from January 2021 to November 16, 2021 reached 304, he added.
Furthermore, 273 patients recovered from dengue and none succumbed to the fever, Weng said.
He then asked the community to keep the environment clean by cleaning houses and their surroundings together.
He said he hopes that no used cans or puddles will be allowed to remain that can become mosquito nests.
“If anyone is feeling sick, immediately report to the nearest health worker to be treated,” he urged.
Source: Antara News