Dengue
cases, which can be highly lethal to children, rose phenomenally in the first
five months this year and more than doubled compared with the same period last
year.
The
Ministry of Health, in a statement released yesterday said that from January to
May this year there were 1,915 cases and four deaths. Last year, the ministry
said, there were 567 cases with one death.
The
statement said dengue cases normally peaked after a cycle lasting three to five
years and this year more cases are expected due to the abnormally high
atmospheric temperatures associated with intense El Nino events.
Health
Minister Dr. Mam Bunheng urged Cambodians to exercise strict caution during the
rainy season to prevent themselves from being bitten by the Aedes mosquito that
carries the dengue virus.
In the
statement, Dr. Bunheng said parents should ensure the surroundings of their
houses were kept clean and all mosquito breeding areas destroyed to eliminate
the Aedes larva. This is to prevent children from getting dengue, he said in
the statement.
Children
are susceptible to dengue and often succumb to dengue hemorrhagic fever if
there is a delay in seeking help from health centers or hospitals. There is no
treatment for dengue and generally the fever resolves on its own with the help
of intravenous fluids.
“Please
rush your child to the nearest health center if he or she has high fever
because dengue can kill,” said the minister.
Dr. Bunheang said the larvacide Abate was the
most effective in eliminating the Aedes mosquito in its breeding sites, with
the Abate pellets put in water jars and containers – the mosquito’s favorite
breeding places.
Secretary
of State at the Ministry of Health Dr. Eng Huot issued a directive letter to
all provincial and city health department directors to take action in
preventing dengue outbreaks.
He said
in the letter that “there was a significant increase of dengue cases in Kampong
Thom, Siem Reap, Kandal, Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang, Banteay Meanchey, Preah
Vihear and Phnom Penh as well.”
Dr. Hout
ordered all provinces to put Abate in water jars and all water containers.
The
director of the National Center for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria
Control, Dr. Huy Rekol, could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Director
of Kampong Cham Provincial Health Department Kim Sourphirun told Khmer Times
yesterday that the department gave the larvacide Abate to all the province’s
nine districts. Each district, he said, received one ton of Abate for killing
the dengue mosquito larva.
Mr.
Sourphirun also said supplies of serum had also been prepared for intravenous
use in emergency cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever.
Mom
Kunthear
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