Tabanan – The use of Wolbachia bacteria to treat dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) cases in Tabanan Regency has yet to be ascertained when it will be implemented. This method is planned to be applied also in Tabanan after Denpasar City.
“We can’t say for sure when it will be implemented. The sample is in Denpasar first because it is the most endemic there,” explained the Head of Disease Prevention and Control (P2P) of the Tabanan Health Service I Ketut Nariana, Wednesday (8/2/2023).
He explained that the use of Wolbachia bacteria to treat dengue is still waiting for the Bali Health Office’s decision. “We hope to be able to as soon as possible,” added Nariana.
In brief, Nariana explained that the use of Wolbachia bacteria in the treatment of dengue aims to damage the eggs of the Aedes Aegypti mosquito. So that the eradication of Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes can be done in the larva phase.
“(Bacteria) Wolbachia is to make the Aedes Aegypti mosquito infertile,” he explained.
He explained that so far the pattern of prevention of DHF still relies on fogging or fumigation. And what is considered the most effective is eradication of mosquito nests (PSN) in each household and abatement.
“For fogging it only eradicates adult mosquitoes. For example, now fogging, there are mosquito eggs that have been 10 days, they will appear again soon,” he said.
Currently, the emergence of DHF in Tabanan shows an increasing trend. According to data from the Tabanan Health Office in January 2023, there were 72 cases that were spread evenly across 9 districts.
This record shows an increase when compared to data in January 2022, when there were 13 cases. Nariana said that the recent weather factor is expected to contribute to the increase in the number of cases in January 2023.
“(The weather factor) is certainly there. Moreover, this rainy season is expected to last until the end of February or March,” he concluded.
Watch Video “Bill Gates Supports Research on Dengue Fever in Yogyakarta“
(cloud/gsp)
