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Bhutan's Tourism Thimphu |
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Bhutan's Tourism Thimphu |
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| Report:
2004 - High mosquito density in Phuentsholing |
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| Spraying
of delta methrine and fogging are being carried out regularly in Phuentsholing
town to control the high mosquito density and prevent a further spread
of Dengue fever. Starting July 1, the Phuentsholing hospital recorded
1393 cases till July 15 with complaints of fever with body ache, rashes,
vomiting and bleeding. |
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Laboratory
results of the blood samples sent to Kolkata and Bangkok confirmed the
outbreak as Dengue fever on July 14. Eight samples were tested Dengue
positive out of 23 samples sent. Three samples out of 14 also tested
positive for German measles Rubella.
A
survey conducted by health officials found the mosquito density in Phuentsholing
"very high" with an average of eight mosquitoes assailing an individual
in an hour.
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It
also showed that the dengue mosquito and their larvae were found in households
in places where water was stored for domestic use and around workshops
with tyres lying around, bamboo stumps used in construction and in discarded
containers like tins and coconut shells that held water.
Unlike
the nocturnal malaria transmitting mosquito which breeds in dirty water,
the dengue mosquito breeds in clean water and bites during the day.
The dengue mosquito also feeds several times at a stretch and does not
rest after a single feed unlike the malaria mosquito Dr Karma Lhazin said. |
The
outbreak in Phuentsholing is the first Dengue confirmed outbreak in
Bhutan. "But we cannot say it did not exist before, it is just that
people were never effected in this magnitude before," said Dr Tapas Gurung
from the department of Public health.
Phuentsholing
A
team of medical experts from the public health is in Phuentsholing town
trying to contain the outbreak by creating awareness across the town and
aiding the local health personnel to carry out mosquito control measures.
Doctors
say that residents of Phuentsholing are more prone to dengue than travellers. |
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Dengueis of four subtypes and unlike other viral infections where one develops
an immunity for the disease after one infection, infection of one subtype
does not render immunity for the next subtype.
"The
Phuentsholing residents might have had the first subtype of dengue which
almost passes unnoticed like a normal fever, therefore they are more prone
to be infected again, and subsequent infection are more severe" Dr Karma
Lhazin explained.Like most viral diseases, there is no specific medication
for treatment of a dengue and DHF infection. Patients should take analgesic
like Paracetamol, drink plenty of fluids and go to the nearest health facility.
Meanwhile,
across the border the additional district magistrate of Alipurduar sub
district has also informed the Phuentsholing dungkhag administration that
necessary spraying measures have already been initiated in Jaigaon.
| This
article was contributed by KUENSEL, Bhutan's National
Newspaper |
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