Dengue Control Through IPM

Dengue fever has now become a life threat for the people of Pakistan. It was first reported in Pakistan in 1994 but it became a threat in year 2005 when this fever took lives of many people in Pakistan. According to an estimate dengue causes 257 deaths and 16 580 confirmed cases in Lahore whereas approximately 3,692 dengue fever cases have been reported in Sindh province, while 126 cases were confirmed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Dengue fever has now become a life threat for the people of Pakistan. It was first reported in Pakistan in 1994 but it became a threat in year 2005 when this fever took lives of many people in Pakistan. According to an estimate dengue causes 257 deaths and 16 580 confirmed cases in Lahore whereas approximately 3,692 dengue fever cases have been reported in Sindh province, while 126 cases were confirmed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Three main provinces that are currently facing the dengue epidemic are Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh. In this regard the office of World Health Organization (WHO) in Pakistan is also providing  technical, financial and moral support to government to fight against epidemic. The main areas in which WHO is providing support are control of vector, case management and community awareness.

Strategic measures adopted by the Government against dengue fever:

After the outbreak of epidemic government has made certain policies and took steps to control the situation. In 2005 the team of WHO entomologists studied the vector Aedes mosquito and used the information to make effective control measures. In 2008, WHO in collaboration with the federal government merge the malaria prevention program with the dengue control program. In 2010 when too many death cases were reported WHO provided the international professionals for the clinical assistant for hospitalized patients. There is need to adopt all the policies at provincial level for effective management against dengue fever.

Do preventing the mosquitoes to bite is enough as individual preventive measure?

One must have sufficient information about the epidemic to adopt preventive measures. The virus is transmitted from one person to another via mosquito bite. The mosquito multiplies and grows in fresh and stagnant water. The most cases of mosquito bite were observed during sunrise and sunset. The use of mosquito repellent and coils are not enough to fight against dengue, other control measures should also be adopted.

Individual preventive measures against dengue fever:

There are some suggested measures that everyone must adopt to prevent the dengue epidemic in the society.

• As the virus can spread from one person to another so wear full sleeves shirt to prevent mosquito bite.
• The dengue patients must be kept in net and away from healthy patients.
• Keep your home free from standing water and close the windows after sunset.
• Get your home sprayed against mosquitoes and preferably use mosquito repellents especially in morning and evening.

Integrated Pest Management against Dengue Fever:

Pesticide companies are also responsible for public health as they deal in the integrated management of insects and pests causing various diseases. Some of the major responsibilities of pest management companies are surveying, source identification and reduction, preventive measures, biological control, use of traps and repellents and lastly pesticide management.

• Information about the Biological Control of Dengue vector:

Entomopathogenic Ascomycetes is an effective biological tool against dengue vector i.e. Aedes aegypti.the conidia of the fungi when grow it penetrated in the cuticle of adult mosquitoes and result in the production of certain organic compounds causing mechanical damage and death of the vector.

• Information about the control of dengue vector with Larvicide:

When large numbers of adult mosquitoes are observed than larvicide application is preferred over biological control against dengue vector. Larvicide may cause damage to other aquatic life including vertebrates and arthropods.

• Information about the control of dengue vector with Adulticide:

Adulticide must be used under heavy precipitation of mosquitoes, budget constraints, when human disease becomes epidemic and absence of employees and equipment.

The past period has seen a sharp rise in the people’s concern about the safe control of insects and pests. Urban Pest Management is a registered organization which deals with the integrated pest management and is well aware of risk-benefit analyses. We know about all pests and their control. You can visit our website or feel free to contact us for our services.