The dengue carrying mosquito has a 3km feeding rage. No one
can cocoon him/herself in mosquito free environments forever. You have to step out of your mosquito net
sooner or later. You have to go to
school or to work. You are exposed at
home and at your work place, in your classroom and on the way to school.
Children in almost all major schools, public and private, in
and out of Colombo have fallen victim.
It is reported that 10 regions in the country are under risk. Closes to 15,000 cases have been reported in
the past 6 months alone. As we write
there are 291 children warded at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital diagnosed with
‘hemorrhaging fever’ of whom 22 are said to be ‘Dengue shock cases’. The hospital has taken steps to reserve 9
extra wards for patients whose symptoms may indicate contraction of the
disease. Experts have opined that Dengue has taken a ‘pandemic’ quality in the island given is geographical spread with a tendency to reach epidemic proportion during the monsoon periods. The news isn’t getting better. It is now said that the virus now produces a set of symptoms different to those associated with Dengue earlier. A simple neck ache as well as headache, nausea and vomiting, excessive drowsiness and discomfort in bright sunlight are also signs that should worry, they say.
It must be mentioned that relevant authorities as well as
media, civil society organizations and schools have done their utmost to educate
the public about how to prevent Dengue, who to be alert to Dengue-like symptoms
and what should be done if symptoms persist.
There have been massive drives at all levels to eradicate
mosquito-breeding sites and regulations have been developed and are being
enforced to push a largely apathetic public to be more responsible and
proactive for their own good. Doctors,
nurses and other hospital staff have risen to the challenge and have spared no
pains to fight the disease and save patients, especially in government
hospitals, against heavy odds.
In the end, though, ridding the country of this menace will
come down to whether or not we live the adage ‘one for all and all for one’ to
the last letter of the sentiment. One
person erring is something we cannot afford.
This is therefore the time of the collective. And it is the time of the individual. The former cannot be demanded, but the latter
is something that is possible.
You are marked for death, Citizen! What are you going to do about it?
[First part of the Editorial, 'The Nation', June 17, 2012]
6 comments:
"Homeopathy new ray of hope in dengue-hit districts" - this is in India. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-08-26/bhubaneswar/29930944_1_dengue-virus-medicines-homeopathy
Is it true that available mosquito eradication methods such as bacteria spraying are held back because of corporate interests or the interests of mosquito-product makers?
What seems conspicuously lacking is any research from our medical universities or the WHObesides eradicating the mosquito. If ours are not up to the mark, which I very much doubt as many of our locally produced scientists are employed in top positions in USA, UK etc. then we should fund the capable universities elsewhere such as Oxford, Cambridge etc. who already have an excellent track record, who might come up with some answers.
this is true. Malaria, which was a killer disease in this country 100 years ago, has been controlled effectively. The methods used were quite drastic, i think- pesticides and quinine; both had unfortunate side-effects, however. Perhaps there is a reluctance to use the same type of method. And the virus does seem to be mutating-vide, the symptoms of the disease.
So, why authorities still not using those Cuban Bactria that attacks to Mosquito larva.
Yeah, does anyone know why the bacteria is not used - I thought that was almost done a couple of years ago, what happened?
Post a Comment