Dengue Fever Season in Guangdong: Experts Emphasize Importance of Eliminating BreedingGrounds
Guangzhou, China – As the dengue fever season intensifies inGuangdong province, health experts are urging residents to take proactive measures to prevent the spread of the disease. The key, they say, lies in eliminating mosquito breedinggrounds by simply emptying any standing water.
Lin Lifeng, Deputy Director and Chief Scientist of the Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, highlighted theimportance of this simple yet effective strategy during an interview on August 28th. The most important thing in mosquito control is to overturn and empty containers, eliminating standing water, he stated. No standing water means no mosquitoes.
The call for vigilance comes amidst a global surge in dengue fever cases. According to Lin, the 2024 dengue fever epidemic has reached unprecedented levels, surpassing previous years in terms of intensity. Over 10 million cases and6,000 deaths have been reported across 80 countries and regions, marking a threefold increase compared to the same period last year.
This global trend has raised concerns about the potential for increased dengue fever transmission in Guangdong. The province is currently experiencing a peak season for the disease, with the risk of transmissionfurther amplified by the upcoming summer holidays, the National Day holiday, the Canton Fair, and other major events, all of which will see a significant increase in domestic and international travel.
Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne disease primarily transmitted through the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, commonly known as the yellowfever mosquito. The disease’s transmission hinges on three key elements: the source of infection, the mode of transmission, and susceptible individuals.
While the presence of asymptomatic carriers makes controlling the source of infection challenging, the lack of a specific vaccine or effective treatment for dengue fever further complicates efforts to isolate the sourceand protect vulnerable populations.
Therefore, the most effective and crucial strategy for preventing dengue fever lies in breaking the chain of transmission by eliminating mosquitoes. This involves employing measures that prevent mosquito bites, effectively halting the spread of the disease.
While advancements in mosquito control technologies, such as mosquito-killing mosquitoes, nano-pesticides, and mRNA insecticides, hold promise, their practical application on a large scale remains under development due to their complexity and cost.
Lin emphasizes the effectiveness of the traditional method of eliminating breeding grounds by emptying containers. By simply overturning and emptying containers, such as bottles, cans, flower pots, andwater buckets, we can eliminate mosquito larvae, he explained. This simple action is both effective and efficient.
He further illustrated the impact of neglecting this simple measure: If we have an unused water bucket on our balcony, it can produce hundreds of mosquito larvae within a week. These larvae will then mature into bitingadult mosquitoes daily. These mosquitoes will spread to a surrounding area of thousands of square meters, biting people. While insecticide spraying requires specialized chemicals, equipment, and trained personnel for regular and continuous application within the flight range of mosquitoes, simply emptying the water bucket eliminates both the larvae and the water, preventing further mosquito growth. Thisapproach solves the problem from the source permanently and without the need for insecticides.
The Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention urges residents to take proactive measures to prevent dengue fever by eliminating mosquito breeding grounds. By diligently emptying containers and eliminating standing water, individuals can significantly contribute to reducing the risk of dengue fever transmission and safeguardingpublic health.
【source】http://www.chinanews.com/life/2024/08-28/10276099.shtml
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