Stop mosquito breeding – prevent dengue

Stop mosquito breeding – prevent dengue New Delhi, 08 September 2016: Dengue cases are on the rise, and it is important that each one of us works towards preventing the onset on the disease. However, to do so, we must know all about the disease carrying vector and the disease itself. Dengue fever is a disease caused by a family of viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes. The symptoms include severe joint and muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes, headache, fever, exhaustion, and rashes. Because dengue fever is caused by a virus, there is no specific medicine or antibiotic to treat it. For typical dengue fever, the treatment is directed toward relief of the symptoms. The acute phase of the illness with fever and myalgias lasts about one to two weeks. Speaking about this, Padma Shri Awardee Dr. K.K. Aggarwal, President Elect IMA and President HCFI said, “What most people do not realize is that the dengue mosquito breeds in fresh clean water as opposed to dirty drains. Thus, people living in clean urban surroundings are more at risk of acquiring the disease. People must ensure that they do not let water accumulate in their houses, wear full-sleeve clothing and use mosquito repellents during the monsoon season when the incidence of the disease is the highest. Prevention is always better than cure. In case of being diagnosed with dengue, people must not panic, consume ample amounts of fluids since the dangers of dengue lie in dehydration and must only get a platelet transfusion if their platelet counts are below 10,000 or there is active bleeding. Unnecessary transfusion can cause more harm than good." The dengue mosquito lays its eggs on the walls of water-filled containers in the house and patio. Eggs can survive for months. The eggs hatch when submerged in water. Female mosquitoes lay dozens of eggs up to 5 times during their lifetime. The life cycle of the mosquito from egg to larvae, pupae, and to an adult mosquito, is about eight days and occurs in water. Adult mosquitoes live for about one month and rest indoors in dark areas (closets, under beds, behind curtains). It is only the female mosquitoes, which bite humans. The dengue mosquito can fly several hundred yards looking for water-filled containers to lay their eggs. A few mosquitoes per household can produce large dengue outbreaks. The dengue mosquito does not lay eggs in ditches, drainages, canals, wetlands, rivers or lakes; pouring chlorine into these habitats is useless. Chlorine is harmful to aquatic life. The risk of complications is in less than 1% of dengue cases and, if warning signals are known to the public, all deaths from dengue can be avoided. The onus of prevention lies in the hands of each person. We must not let mosquitos breed around our houses, wear full sleeve clothes while going out and use mosquito repellent in the monsoon season.

Paradigm shift in Aedes Mosquitoes over the last decade

Paradigm shift in Aedes Mosquitoes over the last decade​

Dr K K Aggarwal

 

Then - It bites only in the day.
Now - It bites in the light. Day and night does not matter.

Then - It breeds in safe water.
Now - It breeds in stagnant water from natural sources.

Then - It breeds only inside the house.
Now - It breeds both inside and outside the house, in any discarded objects/containers with stagnant rainy water collection.

Then - Mosquito breeds in water tanks on the roof and coolers.
Now - It breeds both in small and large water collections. It can even grow in the caps of bottled water.

Then - Mosquito grows high in environment.
Now - Mosquito grows low in environment. Look for it lower in the walls.

Then - Mosquito nets are not needed to prevent dengue.
Now - When you sleep during day or night, use mosquito net during an outbreak.

Then - You only need to notify the confirmed cases.
Now - You also need to notify suspected cases

Then - Mosquito can lay eggs anywhere.
Now - Mosquito does not prefer to lay eggs on earthen utensils.

Indian Medical Association raises awareness about Zika Virus amongst the public and the medical fraternity

Indian Medical Association raises awareness about Zika Virus amongst the public and the medical fraternity

Zika, a viral infection causes fever, rash, joint pain, red eyes. It spreads mainly through Aedes mosquito bites. But can also spread from a pregnant mother to her unborn baby, and through anal, oral or vaginal sex.  If acquired during pregnancy it can cause microcephaly in foetus. If one is not pregnant or not planning to get pregnant it is likely to be harmless. 

Zika is seen in Africa, Southeast Asia, Pacific Islands, Central and South America, Mexico, Caribbean, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. No cases have yet been reported in India. Most (80%) people infected with Zika have no or only mild symptoms. If there are symptoms, they usually happen 2 to 12 days after being bitten by a mosquito that has the virus. The Zika Virus is notorious and can also cause Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Raising awareness, Dr SS Agarwal – National President IMA & Padma Shri Awardee Dr KK Aggarwal – Honorary Secretary General IMA said, “If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant, it is recommended that you avoid traveling to countries where the Zika virus is present. There is no specific treatment for the Zika virus and patients must take rest, drink plenty of fluids & have Paracetamol to control their fever. It is important to remember that you must not take aspirin. In children, aspirin can trigger a serious condition called the Reye syndrome.”

To prevent getting Zika virus, one must stay inside when the aedes are most active. They bite during the daytime, very early in the morning, and in hours before sunset. Buildings with screens and air conditioning are safest. Wear shoes, long-sleeved shirts, and long pants when you go outside. Wear bug spray or cream that contains DEET or a chemical called picaridin. Do not use DEET on babies younger than 2 months. On your clothes and gear, use bug repellants that have a chemical permethrin. Drain any standing water. Avoid mosquito bites if you have already gotten Zika to stop it from further spreading.

If you have been to a country where people are infected with the Zika virus, you should not donate blood for at least 4 weeks afterwards. There is no vaccine for Zika virus infection.

Travellers returning from areas with Zika virus transmission should abstain from or have only protected sex for at least eight weeks. Couples planning to conceive should also wait eight weeks—or six months if the male partner has symptoms of the virus. Previously, IMA recommended abstinence or protected sex for four weeks following a person’s return from an area where Zika is circulating. All Indian athletes and visitors attending this summer’s Olympic and Paralympic Games Rio 2016 should use condoms while in Rio and for eight weeks after returning home.

WHO has already ruled out any change in timing or the location of the upcoming Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. In last common wealth games that took place in India there was a threat of the deadly dengue virus.  Unnecessary risk is posed when 500,000 foreign tourists from all countries attend the Games, potentially acquire that strain, and return home to places where it can become endemic.

IMA has warned to all those travelling to Brazil to take precautions against mosquito bites and have said pregnant women should avoid areas where Zika is circulating, including Rio.