| Azlan Othman |
THE Minister of Health, Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Zulkarnain bin Haji Hanafi advised pregnant women or those trying to get pregnant to consult doctors prior to departure to Zika-infected countries.
“It would be better for such travel to be postponed or delayed. Make sure that they avoid mosquito bites, wear long-sleeved shirts and use insect repellents in the form of spray or creams available at shops,” he said on the sidelines of fogging activities by the Ministry of Health staff in Kg Berangan in the capital yesterday.
The Ministry of Health in a statement said that the World Health Organization (WHO) has not issued any specific trade and travel restriction with respect to travelling to countries affected by the Zika virus. People continue to travel between the affected countries and territories for a variety of reasons. The best way to reduce risk of disease is to follow public health travel advice.
The mosquito-borne Zika virus poses a particular risk to pregnant women because it can cause microcephaly, a severe birth defect in which babies are born with abnormally small heads and underdeveloped brains.
When asked on the monitoring at points of entry like the international airport, Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Zulkarnain said the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the government are very concerned and want to make sure that our health is looked after.
Minister of Health, Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Awang Zulkarnain bin Haji Hanafi at the site of the fogging activities by the Ministry of Health. – PHOTOS: AZLAN OTHMAN
Ministry of Health staff conducting fogging activities in Kg Berangan.
“We have to remember that just because we have a fever it does not mean that we have Zika. There are more important causes like Dengue from malaria-infected areas. It is important that we don’t miss cases like this. For the moment, we are in close communication with the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA),” he said.
“The Zika virus is not a new virus but has been around since 1947. WHO urges us to be more aware and to prevent pregnant women from being infected. Aedes brings Zika, Dengue and Chikungunya,” he added.
Environmental sanitation is important and Bruneians should jointly contain this issue and maintain cleanliness and hygiene by preventing stagnant water in flower pots, drums and containers, empty tyres and blocked drains which can become breeding grounds for mosquitoes at residential and construction areas,” the minister said.
He also said Zika infects through mosquito bites and although there is no treatment and vaccination available to date the disease can be diagnosed. Mosquito bites should be avoided as prevention is far better than cure.
“But Zika is self-limiting where over 80 per cent of those infected will not develop any symptoms. Others will develop mild symptoms like rashes, colds and pain at joints. One must seek medical attention and drink a lot of water.
“One must wear long-sleeve shirts and pants and avoid going out at dusk and avoid wearing dark shirts. The relevant agencies in Brunei Darussalam are ready to tackle this virus. We have Dengue cases here but it has dropped but we should not be complacent with this decline. Schools must instil the importance of cleanliness, sanitation and its impact like preventing the spread of diseases,” the minister added.
As for the fogging activities yesterday, the minister said, it was a supplementary activity to aid more important measures such as maintaining cleanliness.
The Ministry of Health staff are taking samples of stagnant water and if found that it is a breeding ground of Aedes, the fogging team will be sent.
At the same time, the public plays a role in cleaning their surroundings to prevent the spread of the virus by destroying its breeding grounds.
Meanwhile, the Medical Superintendent of Public Health at the MoH, Dr Justin Wong Yun Yaw said that any areas which show spikes in cases of mosquito infestation, those will be inspected and if appropriate fogging will be conducted.
It is the house owner’s responsibility to empty stagnant water from any containers to ensure mosquito larva is not present.
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