Health Authorities Step Up Measures Against Dengue Outbreak

Local Health Authorities in collaboration with the World health Organization (WHO) are working closely on strategic plans to prevent any increase of dengue fever in the country.

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) earlier this week has recorded up to 223 suspected cases in Honiara alone.

The increase has forced health authorities to issue a dengue alert calling on members of the public to keep their homes and surroundings clean to destroy mosquito breeding sites.

World Health Organization (WHO) consultant entomologist Dr Chang Moh Seng said the public must alerted on this outbreak.

Dr Seng said the mosquito that carries dengue virus (Aedes) normally bites late afternoon and early in the mornings.

"The virus can only be controlled if communities agreed to working together to remove or clean up breeding sites and apply insecticides where they breed," Dr Seng said.

Meanwhile, the Head of Surveillance Unit in the Ministry of Health and Medical Services Alison Sio said they are working closely with WHO on strategic plans to curb the increase of dengue cases.

The Ministry is sending staff to Malaita and Western provinces this week to check on the situations there.

The cases recorded so far are only for Honiara where surveillance has been carried out.

(source: www.scoop.co.nz)