Health Ministry Launches Campaign Against Dengue Fever

Bandar Seri Begawan – The Ministry of Health has taken steps to control the rising cases of dengue fever every year in the Sultanate.

As of September 30, the ministry disclosed a total of 143 cases of dengue fever, which showed an increase compared with the recorded cases in the past years.

The ministry, however, stressed that the increase in the number of cases every year is not only a phenomenon happening in Brunei but occurs in other countries all over the world.

“From time to time, there have been cases of dengue fever in the Sultanate but most of these cases are normal dengue fever,” the report said.

Of the 143 cases of people infected with dengue virus, 94 have shown signs of dengue fever while 44 have met doctor for treatment.

The steps the MOH has taken so far to control this disease include prevention through cleanliness of the environment, especially among residential areas in order to prevent aedes mosquitoes from multiplying. Aedes mosquitoes are the carrier of dengue virus.

Throwing rubbish like empty cans and old tires block sewage which will cause water to be stagnant. Stagnant waters will become a habitat for aedes mosquitoes.

In residential areas, pail, open water tank, bottom of flower vase and others can be a breeding ground fro the dengue virus carrying mosquitoes, too.

Steps of prevention and control are being done by the health service department with the help of government agencies like district department, municipal department, environment, park and recreation department and JKR.

Health education seminars on health and cleanliness to the public, especially to villagers are going on.

During the seminar, officers will conduct health education on a house to house basis to destroy the habitat of dengue mosquitoes, kill the mosquitoes by spreading smoke and insecticide and kill the larva by using chemical.

The health authorities said that uncontrolled cleanliness is the main factor that causes dengue disease.

People play an important role in preventing the aedes mosquitos from multiplying by destroying their habitat because main steps of controlling this dengue fever is through destroying the aedes mosquitoes.

Any question, the public may contact health service department through telephone numbers 2382041 and 2381854 for Brunei/Muara, 4221235 for Tutong, 3334222 for Kuala Belait, and 5221280 and 5221304 for Temburong. -- Courtesy of Radio Television Brunei 

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