Dengue fever patients in Arakan State goes over 300

21 Jun 2019

Min Tun | DMG

21 June, Sittwe

The number of dengue fever patients in Arakan State this year has reached to 342, but there is no report of any deaths, according to Dr Thiha, deputy head of the Department of Public Heath in Arakan State.

The outbreaks occurred mostly in May and June and the fever was found mostly in Sittwe, Thandwe and Taunggup this year, Dr Thiha said.

In Arakan State, the lowest number of dengue patients was in April and the highest in June, according to the figures from the Department of Public Health. There were 15 patients in January and February, 22 in March and then the number dropped to 14 in April but then climbed to 96 in May, and surged to its highest rate in June with 180 patients.

“There are no reports of deaths. Thandwe has the highest numbers of patients. Sittwe follows and Taunggup has the third highest number. We are now conducting a prevention process in these townships,” Dr Thiha said.

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne tropical disease caused by the dengue virus, and prevention is the best way for people to avoid getting it, the doctor said.

“People need to cooperate with medical staff for preventing further outbreaks of the fever. If we can reduce the breeding grounds of mosquitos, there will be fewer outbreak of the disease. In villages, people cut down bamboo, and leve the bottom end of bamboo stalks where they cut it. When water collects in it, it becomes a place for mosquitoes to lay eggs. If we cover the cups of bamboo with sand, there will be no chance for mosquitoes to lay their eggs and the spread of dengue can be marginalized,” Dr Thiha said.

Dengue fever can infect all people regardless of age and gender, but on these specific occasions but it mostly broke out among children from 5 to 9 years old. It can be found at any time of the year, but the highest outbreak is during rainy season.