Belize is officially in its second wave of a Dengue outbreak and the Ministry of Health has issued a call on all Belizeans to help in its efforts to combat this most recent hike in cases. The Ministry of Health, Central Health Region, the Belize City Council and other interest groups are launching a massive clean-up campaign on the Southside of Belize City this weekend from Saturday, October 10, to Monday, October 12, in an effort to eliminate breathing sites for the host of the Dengue Fever, Aedes Aegypti mosquito.
Dengue fever is a disease caused by a family of viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes. It is an acute illness of sudden onset. Characteristics of Dengue Fever are headaches, fever, exhaustion, severe joint and muscle pain, swollen glands, and rash. Fever, rash, and headaches are particular characteristic of dengue fever. The virus is contracted from the bite of a striped Aedes aegypti mosquito that has previously bitten an infected person. The mosquito flourishes during the rainy seasons but can breed in water-filled flower pots, plastic bags, and cans all year-round.
Earlier in the year, an outbreak in Dengue cases was reported in the Cayo District in which 114 cases of Dengue Fever were confirmed. The Mexican Embassy assisted by providing trucks and spraying material to suppress that outbreak. This second wave underscores the need for concerted citizen action. Mark Bernard, Senior Health Inspector at the Central Health Region, says, “We need to clean up our area!” The effect that chemical spraying has on mosquitoes is nowhere close to the effect that someone cleaning up their yard has on that species.
The cleanup campaign this weekend is an opportunity for individuals to take advantage of machine and human resources offered by the Ministry of Health and the Belize City Council to clean up their yards free of cost. Next weekend the north side of the city will be subject to the campaign.
A case of dengue fever is painful (an here I speak from experience) and potentially dangerous, so we urge our Belizean readers to do their part.
For more go to http://www.guardian.bz/all-news/59-other-news/838-war-against-the-aedes-aegypti-mosquito
PHOTO CAPTION: The structure of the mature dengue virus particle was determined last year by Michael Rossmann and Richard Kuhn’s team. The virus’ surface is unusually smooth and its membrane is completely enclosed by a protein shell. The protein is color-coded blue, green and yellow to show the three specific domains of the protein. The protein shell serves as a cage for the genetic material inside. (Purdue University computer illustration). You can find a report of their fascinating research at http://www.purdue.edu/UNS/html4ever/030618.Rossmann.immature.htm
