Change strategies to fight dengue, govt urged

KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry should consider adopting a different approach in fighting dengue, such as engaging more local experts and giving tax deductions for home owners to install mosquito screens, says an expert.

Universiti Malaya virologist Prof Dr Sazaly Abu Bakar said the change from dengue virus serotype-1 to serotype-2 had likely brought about more cases because the population’s immunity was low.

He warned that if a person was infected with a dengue virus for the second time and with a different serotype, especially serotype-2, it could be fatal.

“The dengue situation is bad and the Health Ministry should consider adopting a different approach to fighting dengue,” he said, adding that local experts should be engaged, rather than foreign ones.

Dr Sazaly said there was currently not enough data for more targeted efforts.

Local data, he said, could be used to draw out more accurate computer-driven models of dengue situations and on how resources could be strategically deployed for effective control measures.

Asked if the hot weather was contributing to the rise in dengue cases, he said those living in houses with no air-conditioning, especially in high-density dengue hotspots, tended to stay outdoors to cool down in the evenings and might be exposed to mosquito bites and possibly, dengue infection.

“But all these require a study to understand and appreciate the impact,” he said.

“For the house, mosquito screens should be put on windows,” he said, urging the government to give a one-off RM3,000 tax deduction for home owners to install mosquito screens.

Dr Sazaly said the general use of repellent outdoors during dusk and dawn when mosquitoes tended to bite would also help to protect people.

He reminded those who had contracted dengue to use effective repellent to cut off transmission to their family members, colleagues and other people they were in contact with.

Source : TheStar