Sri Lankan papers go "anti-mosquito" for a day to fight dengue fever
Colombo (AsiaNews) - In order to raise awareness about the need to prevent dengue fever, which kills thousands of people each year, Ceylon Today and Mawbima, two of Sri Lanka's leading newspapers, came out today with a special edition, using an ink infused with Citronella oil which is a natural repellent for the mosquito that causes hemorrhagic fever.
The project is part of the National Mosquito Control Week (2-8 April 2014), designed to encourage dengue prevention through several activities across the country.
In order to raise awareness, the paper issued today's special edition on World Health Day, which falls today. This year's spotlight is on 'vector-borne diseases'.
Because the dengue virus is transmitted through mosquitoes that thrive in swamps and marshland, the most important step in fighting this disease is the elimination of all possible sources of infection, wherever water collects.
"In early 2014, a total of 6,104 Dengue cases were reported in Sri Lanka," Ceylon Today reports today. "At present the only effective method to control the transmission of the Dengue virus is to try and limit mosquito bites and ensure that your surroundings are mosquito free through a series of preventative measures."
The latter include: wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants; cover or empty water containers; avoid stagnant waters, which are an ideal habitat for mosquito eggs; use insecticides and repellents, preferably natural ones like citronella oil.
Often fatal, hemorrhagic fever is the most violent form of the virus.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), dengue is the mosquito-borne viral disease most commonly found among people.
Some 50 million infections are recorded worldwide each year with about 2.5 billion people or two fifths of the world's population at risk.
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04/12/2010
