KLIKKALTIM.COM- The Bontang City Health Office will implement the Wolbachia innovation to treat Dengue Fever cases in Bontang. You do this by releasing millions of mosquitoes that have been injected with bacteria into residential areas.
This method, which has been approved by the Ministry of Health, will be implemented in Bontang City this year. Treatment with Wolbachia has been tested in 2 cities in Indonesia, Bantul and Yogyakarta with satisfactory results.
The Wolbachia method is a method of instilling Wolbachia bacteria into the mosquito’s body. This bacterium can grow naturally in insects, especially mosquitoes, except for the Aedes aegypti mosquito.
Wolbachia bacteria can immobilize the dengue virus, so if an Aedes aegypti mosquito feeds on blood containing the dengue virus, it will be resistant so it will not spread to the human body.
As a city endemic to Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF), Bontang is ideal for implementing this method. Since the beginning of the year there have been quite a lot of infections. In fact, there are almost hundreds of people. All spread evenly in 15 Sub-Districts.
The Health Office records for the period from January to early April 2023 and there have been a total of 119 cases. However, until now there has been no update data on the number of dengue fever distribution.
Read Also : January – June There are 260 Dengue Cases in Bontang, 3 Residents Died
Young Epidemiologist at the Bontang Health Service, Adi Permana, said that later the millions of Wolbahia mosquito larvae eggs would be sent directly from Yogyakarta.
Because that is where the breeding center is and is indeed a research site for Wolbachia mosquitoes. “So we brought mosquito eggs with Wolbachia bacteria from Yogyakarta to Bontang. The total is probably millions. This is a step to prevent the spread of the Aedes aegypti mosquito,” Adi told Klik Kaltim, Thursday (4/5/2023).
The way it works is by reducing the prevalence of dengue by controlling the mosquitoes, not eliminating them, but by preventing the mosquitoes from transmitting the virus again. You do this by incorporating Wolbachia bacteria into the mosquito. So that if the mosquito bites it will not be transmitted.
Even though this innovation is carried out, conventional methods of prevention will still be carried out. The community is still asked to always maintain the cleanliness of the environment. This movement is considered to be massive. Not just one or two people.
The breeding radius of mosquitoes even reaches 200 meters. At least consistently carry out the 4 M precautions, Drain, Cover, Recycle and Avoid Mosquito Bites.
“This is a very effective movement where awareness of keeping the environment clean. Alternatives to using fooging are no longer relevant,” he said.
From the records of the development of the Health Office, all 15 areas of the Bontang sub-district are graphically prone to the spread of DHF. In fact, all health facilities can treat DHF patients.
Only people who have symptoms are immediately examined. Do not be late and the consequences will be fatal.
“DHF can also cause death. That’s why handling must be fast. All health facilities can provide DHF treatment,” he concluded.
2023-05-04 09:48:20
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