| James Kon |
HEALTH authorities warned of fresh bouts of dengue fever outbreaks in Kampong Ayer. The number of cases is likely to go up this year compared to previous years, they said, basing their projection on the alarming rise in dengue cases from January to April this year.
According to the Public Health Services, the first four months of 2018 saw 19 cases in Kampong Ayer compared to eight cases in the same period last year and six cases in 2016.
The worrying trend of rising dengue fever cases was highlighted by Director of Environmental Health Dr Hajah Anie Haryani binti Haji Abdul Rahman, in her opening remarks at a dialogue session with the penghulus and village heads of Kampong Ayer on ‘Vector-Borne Diseases and Control’, at the Al-’Afiah Hall, Ministry of Health (MoH) yesterday.
“We already experienced the burden of vector-borne diseases like dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis, chikungunya and others. Before 2002, no dengue fever cases were detected and reported in Brunei Darussalam. Dengue fever started to rise in 2003 and most of the cases were reported from Kampong Ayer. The situation came under control soon and the following years saw only a small number of cases. In 2012, dengue cases began to increase in numbers again and this time the majority of the cases were from Kampong Ayer too,” she said.
“Looking at the pattern of dengue outbreaks in Brunei Darussalam, it is found that the increase in cases happens every three to four years,” she added.
The dialogue session, she said, aimed to provide an explanation on dengue fever and discuss ways to prevent and control it by ensuring clean surroundings.
“The MoH cannot prevent and control the dengue fever in Kampong Ayer without the full support and cooperation from all the villagers,” she added.
Dr Hajah Martina Melati binti Dato Seri Paduka Haji Kifrawi also delivered a presentation on vector-borne diseases.
She highlighted that “from January to May 1 this year, 37 dengue fever cases were reported across the country. Thirty-one cases came from the Brunei-Muara District alone, of which 19 were from Kampong Ayer”.
Detailing the incidence of dengue cases in Kampong Ayer from October 2017 to April 2018, she revealed that Mukim Sungai Kebun recorded 16 cases, Mukim Burong Pinggai Ayer 14 cases, Mukim Peramu five cases, Mukim Saba three cases and Mukim Tamoi two cases.
Explaining the vector-borne diseases, she said a vector is any insect including mosquitoes that can bring or cause diseases to humans and animals. “Mosquitoes are one of the vectors that cause diseases like dengue fever, malaria, Japanese encephalitis, yellow fever, chikungunya and zika.”
Touching on the symptoms of dengue fever, she said, “They will show up from three to 14 days after mosquito bite and may last for two to seven days. The common symptoms are continuous fever; pain in the joints, bones, eyes and head; loss of appetite; vomiting; stomachache; skin rashes and bleeding,” she said.
Senior Health Officer of Environmental Health Haji Jaafar bin Haji Jais, in his presentation touched on preventive measures and control of vector disease carriers.
He urged the public to destroy breeding grounds of mosquitoes by throwing stagnant water from vases at least once a week and cleaning it to make sure that mosquito eggs are destroyed, cleaning the drainage to ensure that there is no stagnant water; making sure items like tins, bottles and plastic containers are thrown properly into the rubbish bins; covering up water storage facilities like drums, and buckets; and making sure used tyres are not exposed to rain and collect water.
The official also reminded the public to maintain cleanliness of their homes, village schools as well as workplaces and public areas.
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