Health ministry urges public to clear mosquito breeding grounds

The number of dengue fever cases recorded so far this year stands at 4,689, while three people have succumbed to the virus, the Ministry of Health’s Communicable Disease Control Department has reported.

Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone addresses the Lao PDR 2nd Human Capital Summit at the National Convention Centre on Wednesday.

A doctor at Setthathirath Hospital told reporters on Wednesday that more cases have been recorded this year than last and that more people are receiving treatment for dengue fever.
She urged everyone to be alert to possible symptoms of dengue, saying that if a person has a high temperature or suspects they may have contracted dengue, it is essential to see a medical professional as soon as possible.
“Health authorities are concerned about the higher number of dengue fever cases this year and we continue to encounter challenges in preventing the spread of dengue,” she said.
The mosquitoes responsible for dengue transmission are the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus species.
Minister of Health Dr Bounfeng Phoummalaysith has called on health officials and local authorities across the country to closely monitor their areas in the fight against dengue, hoping to reduce the number of cases, according to the National Centre for Laboratory and Epidemiology.
Health authorities are urging people to clear potential mosquito breeding sites around their homes and workplaces to help curb the spread of the virus. These activities are focused on long-term prevention and are vital to combatting the disease and its spread through neighbourhoods.
In particular, households need to keep their surroundings clean and remove all stagnant water to prevent mosquitoes breeding. Authorities have been raising public awareness as one of the main strategies to reduce the risk of dengue transmission.
Every family should throw out any water that collects in jars, vases, and dishes and should cover such vessels to prevent more water from filling them again.
Schools, hospitals, factories, hotels, restaurants, tourist facilities, and offices have been advised to organise cleaning activities to remove any sources of stagnant water to slow mosquito breeding.
Village heads, associations, charities, and monks are also crucial in the battle against dengue fever.

By Phetphoxay Sengpaseuth
 (Latest Update June 27, 2024)