HEALTH officials continue to reinforce their efforts to combat the potential spread of Zika virus in Brunei Darussalam.
The Ministry of Health stresses that residents, school-goers, patients in clinics, and workers at construction sites, and the general public have a big role to play in prevention of transmission of Zika virus in Brunei Darussalam.
Zika virus disease is transmitted mainly through the bite of an infected mosquito (though cases of transmission via sexual contact have also been reported). Therefore, the most effective way to prevent Zika virus transmission is to reduce the number of mosquitoes around you and your environment. In addition to Zika, mosquitoes are responsible for a large proportion of vector-borne diseases that can be transmitted to humans. These diseases include dengue, malaria, filariasis, Japanese encephalitis (JE), Yellow Fever, West Nile, and Chikungunya.
The arrival of Zika virus disease in neighbouring countries has put the Ministry of Health on high alert, urging everyone to protect themselves from bites and eliminate standing water where mosquitoes breed. In order to protect yourself and your family from these vector-borne diseases, you should follow the following precautionary measures.
Reduce the risks of mosquito bites by remembering the “five Ds”:
Dusk and Dawn – avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are most active.
Dress – wear long, loose, light-coloured clothing that covers the skin.
DEET – use mosquito repellents that contain DEET. DEET is the most effective mosquito repellent.
Drainage – eliminate standing water around the home in places such as buckets, cans, old tyres and plant containers.
Haji Zakaria bin Haji Serudin (left), Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health conducting an inspection at a school.
Fogging at one of the housing areas. – PHOTOS: MINISTRY OF HEALTH
Reducing mosquito population by denying them a place to breed. There are many things individuals can do to encourage reduced mosquito population around their homes, schools, mosques, clinics, and others. These include:
Remove trash and clutter. This includes discarded tyres, buckets, tarps and any other items that could collect water.
Minimise and eliminate standing water. Mosquitoes require water to breed. Removing water-holding containers or turning them upside down, as well as ensuring trash can lids fit tightly, helps prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs. Do not let water sit at bottom of flower pots or in holes or tree stumps.
Regularly clean gutters. Clogged drains and gutters can create backup that breeds mosquitoes.
Repair screens on windows and doors. Make sure children know to keep screen doors closed to keep mosquitoes from entering buildings.
Maintain lawns. Cut weeds, mow lawns and water plants carefully to prevent standing water.
Replace water in flower pots at least once a week. The pots must also be cleaned and scrubbed to eliminate mosquito eggs that may be attached to the wall of the pots.
Boats that are no longer in use should be covered or flipped so that they cannot collect water.
Prevent used tyres from collecting rainwater. This can be done by punching holes in these tyres. To dispose of these used tyres, you can send them to used tyres-specific landfills.
Get yourselves vaccinated. Not all vector-borne diseases have vaccines but those that do, such as Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and Yellow Fever, are available from the Ministry of Health.
The most important part of mosquito control around your home and your environment is to make sure that mosquitoes do not have a place to lay their eggs. The Ministry of Health continues to monitor the Zika virus in cooperation with the World Health Organization and will implement all necessary measures including informing the public of any developments. For any questions about the Zika virus infection or any mosquito-borne disease, the public can visit the Ministry of Health website at www.moh.gov.bn or call the Darussalam line 123. – Courtesy of the Ministry of Health
The post Enhancing public awareness on mosquito control appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.