by Prof Bhushan Manchanda
Amid heavy rainfall in the last month, to curb the rise in Dengue cases, a comprehensive plan was prepared after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s meetings with officials from the Health
Department, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) and other departments.
Dengue fever is a tropical-borne disease characterized by mosquito bites and the dengue virus. The breed of mosquito called Aedesaegypti, which survives only in tropical and sub-tropical areas throughout the year- facilitates transmit of the virus. To know the ways to avoid dengue, it is important to know that these mosquitoes are said to be prevalent a lot more during the day than at night. Hence, the chances of being bitten by this mosquito are high during the day.
District-level officers were directed to make people aware of the prevention of mosquito-borne diseases in their respective areas. For the prevention of dengue, cooperation of all Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) and ongoing construction sites was sought.
The Executive Committee of ARWA, Sector A, Pocket C led by its President, Prateek Pathak swung into action and has taken a number of steps. Measures were implemented to avoid dengue cases and raise public awareness.
Necessary advisories were released and regular spraying through Chemical fogging, particularly H2O2 (or Hydrogen Peroxide) fogging was carried out in hotspot areas.
It is advised that preventive measures as under must be taken by all the residents:
· Reduce mosquito habitat; Stay in well-screened houses; Use mosquito repellents as required; Employ Self-protection measures” (i.e.wearing long pants and long sleeved shirts); Do not let water stagnate anywhere & Keep your house airy and well-lit.
The measures have been effective as we have not seen any marked dengue cases in this season.
