Bintan (ANTARA) – The government of Bintan Regency, Riau Islands, has sent a special team to anticipate the transmission of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), although the disease is currently still relatively small in the area.
“The Bintan health office has a special team tasked with making various efforts to prevent residents from contracting DHF. One of their tasks is to socialize the DHF eradication program in the islands,” said the head of the health office. by Bintan, Gama AF Isnaeni in Bintan, Friday.
The special team also practiced how to eradicate mosquito nests and prevent mosquitoes in and around residents’ homes, he said.
Gama said the number of dengue cases in Bintan from January to August 2022 was recorded at 58 people and the highest number of patients in the May-June 2022 period reached 37 people.
“As of August 2022, only five patients, relatively few compared to the previous month,” he said.
Gama recalled that people with dengue fever, which is caused by a virus in the human body through the bites of the Aedes Aegypti and Aedes Albopictus mosquitoes, have the potential to increase as the weather changes.
Rain causes the containers in and around the house to fill up with water. The container will become a breeding ground for Aedes Aegypti and Aedes Albopictus mosquitoes if the water in the container is not removed.
Mosquitoes that carry the dague virus, which causes dengue fever, can also reproduce in the container filled with water.
“What should we do? Don’t let our homes, the environment around our homes become breeding grounds for mosquitoes,” he said.
Gama explained that eradication of mosquito nests must be done by draining water tanks such as bathtubs, buckets, refrigerator water tanks, and drinking water tanks.
So the community also needs to seal off water tanks and recycle used goods that have the potential to become mosquito nests.
In addition, he also invited the public to sprinkle hard-to-clean water tanks with larvicide powder.
“Use mosquito repellent if necessary,” he urged.
For families who have children or babies, it is best to use mosquito nets while sleeping to make sure they are not bitten by mosquitoes.
People can also plant plants that mosquitoes don’t like, such as lavender flowers and fragrant lemongrass.
“Arrange the light and ventilation so the house is not damp and you don’t hang clothes around the house,” he said.
Gama urged residents to bring their sick family members with symptoms of fever, rash, and muscle and joint pain. People with these symptoms are likely to be infected with dengue fever, so they need to be treated.
“This disease can be cured if treated immediately,” he said.
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