Old tyres are another common mosquito breeding ground.

Let’s band together to get rid of dengue mosquito breeding grounds

After receiving daily reports on the presence of dengue mosquito larvae, Vientiane public health officials met with local authorities to evaluate the risk of a dengue outbreak.
Surveys of larvae carried out in parts of Chanthabouly, Xaysettha, Sisattanak, Sikhottabong, Naxaithong and Xaythany districts indicate there is a strong risk of a dengue outbreak.
Over the past two weeks, health authorities have found that the amount of larvae present in 42 of 96 villages in the capital’s nine districts was higher than the level indicated in the larvae health index. That means these villages are at risk of a dengue fever outbreak if steps are not taken to control the number of mosquitoes.
Insecticide spray has already been used in these villages.
As of August 28, almost 10,509 people from more than 360 of 481 villages in Vientiane had contracted dengue fever.
Chanthabouly district reported 1,123 cases and two deaths; Sikhottabong 1,479 cases and one death; Xaysettha 2,251cases and one death; Sisattanak 1,110 cases; Naxaithong 608 cases; Xaythany 2,839 cases and one fatality; Hadxaifong 911cases; Sangthong 65 cases; and Pakngum 123 cases.
On August 28, 76 new dengue infections were reported across Laos, bringing the total this year to 20,829, while 17 people have died from the virus.
Head of the Communicable Disease Control Division at the Vientiane Health Department, Dr Khamla Phaodavanh, says that every day department officials work with district health staff and village health volunteers to check for mosquito larvae at every house and remove them.
If a community is found to have a large quantity of larvae, large-scale activities will be organised to identify and clear mosquito breeding grounds.
Publicity on the dangers of dengue fever is being stepped up and everyone is instructed to go to a government hospital if they become unwell, as there is a strong chance that illness at this time of the year could be caused by dengue.
It is important to get the right early treatment early on to reduce the risk of serious illness. People with dengue are at greatest risk on the third and fourth days of illness and must be closely monitored. It is essential that they are under the care of a doctor at this time.
The 17 people who died from dengue this year did not go to a hospital until they were seriously unwell. Some had been treated at a clinic. Most importantly, people with dengue need to drink at least four litres of rehydration solution. Common symptoms include a feeling of weakness, a temperature of 38C or more, loss of appetite, and joint pain.
People who have recovered from the dengue virus regain their appetite and have a normal temperature of 35C-36C. Some may have small red dots on their body and a sensation of itchiness in their hands.
Prevention
As dengue fever is a preventable disease, prevention is the most effective way to ward off a dengue outbreak. Prevention is carried out by clearing the potential breeding grounds of mosquitoes. The Ministry of Health encourages everyone to share in this and to be diligent about getting of all mosquito larvae on a regular basis. Dengue fever is mainly spread by the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes, which includes A. aegypti and A. albopictus mosquitoes. A mosquito becomes infected when it bites a person who has dengue in his or her blood.
Potential breeding grounds of mosquitoes
Stagnant water is the most common breeding place. Eggs develop into larvae which are visible and can be found in water that has collected in unused tyres, old tins, coconut shells, jars, cups containing water that are placed on spirit houses and at temples and in homes, shelves that contain the water that drains from a water cooler, water containers used to feed poultry, holes cut in bamboo or the bark of banana trees, empty  shells, and any other places where water collects.
Health officials are confident that if these are emptied of water every week, there will be no larvae. Then there will be no mosquitoes and eventually there will be no dengue fever. But these activities must continue for four or five weeks to be sure that the mosquito breeding cycle has been fully disrupted.

By Xayxana Leukai
(Latest Update August 30, 2022)