“If they
breed, you will bleed” is a message you would see on a billboard, warning of
the dangers posed by dengue in Sri Lanka. According to the WHO, two-fifths of
the world’s population; are at risk of dengue fever, with an estimated 50
million infections annually around the globe. As Sri Lanka and a few other
South Asian countries share the classification of “Category A country” by the
WHO; the vector borne disease remains one of the leading causes of hospitalization
and death among children. According to the Epidemiological Unit, Ministry of
Health, Sri Lanka; 25164 suspected dengue cases have been reported island wide
for the year 2013 (Reported Oct 14th 2013). Of which 48.11% of
patients were from the western province of the country, where the population
density is the highest on the island.
The prevention
campaign which aimed to curb the spread of this disease was initiated in early
2010. From the implementation of the
legal act (National Dengue Prevention Act), adjusting national management
guidelines and the vast research employed into finding a biological control for
the dengue mosquito; Sri Lanka has been rushing to purge the deadly virus off
its grounds. The recent advances in entomology research founded a new species
of mosquito in Sri Lanka, “Topomyia". It’s relevance to dengue is that in
its larval stage; the Topomyia larvae would feed on the larvae of the genus
Aedes. It is a hope that this discovery will help in the multi-pronged advance
against the dengue menace.
Vector
borne diseases have been plaguing the world since our inception on this planet.
Dengue, Malaria, Filariasis and Yellow Fever, are emerging mosquito borne
diseases. Their threat to human health remains detrimental in some parts of the
globe more than others. For example; In
Sri Lanka, Dengue prevention campaigns sprouted overnight creating awareness
and policies aimed at controlling the endemic. The National Dengue Prevention
Act in particular caught my attention. It has been constantly implemented and
the fact that fines and legal prosecution are now used as protocols for fending
off the hemorrhagic fever is nauseating.
Considering
that the vector mosquito breeds in pockets of clean stagnant water, the
breeding grounds are bound to be more numerous in the low socioeconomic areas
of the country. With terrible housing conditions, overcrowding and roofs that
are barely kept together; a perfect environment for water collection is
produced. Marginalizing individuals in this way is a mockery of any democratic governing
body. It would make more sense to provide incentives e.g.; tax deductions, if
the public health inspectors are satisfied.
I also
wanted to touch on the fact that a new mosquito species has been found. With
more research being funded into that topic; the intention I believe is to
incorporate this new species of mosquito in the hopes that the Aedes mosquito
will be kept at bay. My concern is that a new viral disease may emerge by
simply introducing large numbers of this new organism in to the environment. Tipping
the scales of a biological food chain is no simple safe task! Using Mother
Nature’s own, to alter our surroundings for our own gain may amplify other
dangers in the long run. Before such integration, thorough research must be
carried out because if they breed. You never know of the dangers do you...
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