Preventive steps taken as dengue case confirmed

MUSCAT, DEC 15 - Health authorities have intensified efforts to control the spread of dengue following the detection of a case in Muscat last week.
On Thursday, Ministry of Health (MOH) confirmed that a case of dengue was recorded in the Sultanate, with the species of mosquito that carries the disease, Aedes aegypti, being found in Seeb.
The case was not due to the affected person’s travel but as a result of a local transmission.
The Directorate-General of Muscat Municipality too intensified fumigation to control the spread of mosquitoes alongside a number of awareness meetings in mosques, public places and through house visits.
“MOH has carried out a field-survey in coordination with Muscat Municipality to detect Aedes aegypti mosquitoes after a case of locally-transmitted dengue fever was recorded,” the statement said.
“It was proved that the mosquitoes were present in the Wilayat of Seeb in Muscat. This field investigation was carried out because of the detection of a case of dengue fever, which was not travel-related, and possibility of local transmission,” it said.
As per the ministry, the Aedes aegypti mosquito transmits dengue, yellow fever, the Zika virus and other viral diseases.
Citizens and residents have been requested to cooperate with the field team in its efforts to control the mosquito population by eliminating the mosquito breeding sites, and thus prevent the spread of such diseases, MOH urged.
A senior expert at MOH said, “The patients with dengue fever will show symptoms such as high fever, headache and even muscle pain. Following fever attack, it will take around five days to a week to be confirmed of dengue. “Blood platelet count less than 100,000 needs to be given special attention with daily observation and more seriously if the count drops to below 20,000.”
One type of these mosquitoes are found in the urban dwellings while the second is found in the forest, where it multiplies in the holes of the trees, and generally in the forests and plantations.
The age of the adult insect is between two weeks and one month depending on the environmental conditions.
The virus travels to humans through infected female mosquitoes and after an incubation period of four to ten days, the infected mosquito is able to transmit the virus for the rest of its life.
MOH has urged people to follow the certain steps to eliminate mosquito breeding, which include cleaning of water tanks every five days, disposal of water collected from air conditioners, changing water used for fountains, swimming pools and agricultural purposes every five days.
It also calls for changing water containers for animals and birds every five days. All water tanks should be properly covered.
Used tyres, empty dye cans and damaged household utensils should be disposed scientifically.