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The regional health directorate of the centre initiated an information and awareness workshop for journalists and bloggers on August 16, 2024. The meeting briefed journalists on the prevalence of dengue fever, especially in the central region, informed the people about the preventive measures of the disease, discussed the symptoms of the disease, preventive measures, and actions taken by the Ministry of Health to destroy the larvae breeding grounds.
In 2023, Burkina Faso has seen an unprecedented outbreak of dengue fever. In fact, 70,433 cases have been recorded, with 709 deaths. As of August 11, 2024, 7,705 suspected cases of dengue fever have been recorded, as well as 51 deaths. In order to prevent possible outbreaks of dengue fever, the Ministry of Health, through the Regional Health Directorates, is focusing on prevention. This is the reason for this exchange with the media and bloggers.
It is worth noting that the Central Region has reported a total of 4,967 dengue cases and 21 deaths. Dramane Coulibaly, head of the health promotion department of the Central Regional Health Authority, said that there could be several reasons for the high number of cases in the region. “But we have more thoughts about the unhygienic conditions in the city. In the Central Region, we can see some places where mosquitoes breed in large numbers. There is a lot of stagnant water in the city, sometimes even in and near the concessions,” he explained.
To prevent the spread of mosquitoes, including the one that causes dengue, the Ministry of Health has taken several actions. This includes indoor spraying, which began in June and continues. This spraying is carried out at health centers, homes of dengue cases, and between neighbors. A total of 2,169 buildings and 2,102 houses have been treated.
In addition to spraying pesticides in homes, there are campaigns to destroy larval breeding sites. “During seasonal malaria prevention chemotherapy campaigns, community dealers communicated with households about the link between unsanitary conditions and the emergence of mosquitoes. This led to the destruction of larval breeding sites,” said Dramane Coulibaly.
The public is asked to follow a number of individual measures to avoid being bitten by Aedes mosquitoes. These include sleeping under a mosquito net impregnated with insecticide, using mosquito repellents (mosquito repellent cream, mosquito repellent liquid, etc.), wearing long-sleeved clothing that covers most of the body, and installing mosquito screens on doors and windows of franchised premises. In addition to these individual measures, people can also carry out collective activities such as sanitation actions, cleaning drains and destroying larval breeding sites.
In case of high fever, headache, vomiting or even body aches, it is recommended to visit a health center for proper care. Self-medication should definitely be avoided, whether it is traditional products or products purchased in pharmacies. In fact, certain medications such as ibuprofen, diclofenac and even aspirin can cause bleeding if taken while carrying the dengue virus.
As a reminder, dengue fever is transmitted to humans through the bite of the female Aedes mosquito. Cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever present with high fever, headache, retro-orbital pain, and bleeding. People at high risk include pregnant women, children, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses or a history of dengue fever. To date, there is no specific treatment for dengue fever. These are the symptoms that require treatment.
Amel Ouedraogo
Lefaso.com
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