Xaysettha folk adopt regular mosquito control practice

Xaysettha district recorded the second highest number of dengue cases of all those reported in Vientiane this year, spurring district health authorities to do more to ensure the outbreak is brought under control as soon as possible.

Health volunteers observe the rearing of guppy fish, which eat mosquito larvae.

Head of the Xaysettha district office, Dr Chanthalay Xayavong, and his colleagues monitor and evaluate the situation around dengue on a daily basis. They encourage local households to participate in dengue fever control activities, especially by clearing the breeding grounds of mosquitoes, which must be done regularly. As of September 19, 2,762 dengue cases and one death had been recorded in Xaysettha district. Xaythany district has reported the highest number of cases in Vientiane with 3,384.
Dr Chanthalay says it is essential for everyone in the community to participate in all dengue control efforts.
How do you work with villagers on dengue prevention?
One district health official is responsible for one village and leads village health volunteers in overseeing the clearance of potential mosquito breeding grounds in and around any house where an occupant is known to have contracted dengue fever. If the quantity of larvae found is higher than that stated in the health standard index, health officials will use insecticide to kill adult mosquitoes.
Health staff also advise people with mild symptoms of dengue who are undergoing self-care at home to get a blood test every day. This enables medical staff to evaluate whether the infection is getting worse or improving. If the symptoms are worse, the patient will be advised to stay overnight at a hospital in case urgent treatment is needed.
In July and August, insecticide was sprayed in at least 10 villages to kill mosquitoes. The number of dengue infections is now decreasing and the outbreak has not spread to other villages. Most of the infections in Xaysettha district have been recorded in Xiengda, Huakhua, Saengsavang and Nonvai villages.
What problems have you encountered? 
Normally, health authorities and health village volunteers monitor and evaluate larvae and mosquito density every day in communities where a dengue outbreak has occurred, although this work will be postponed if it rains. Rain brings mud and makes it difficult for health authorities to reach an outbreak community. However, the team will return when it is sunny.
How do you publicise dengue prevention activities?
The health district office advises village office authorities to take steps to combat dengue fever every day. Health authorities believe that regular publicity campaigns will help members of the public to understand the importance and benefits of clearing mosquito breeding grounds.
They also need to understand that they must seek treatment at a government hospital if they become unwell, and not just go to a clinic. If everyone strictly follows the measures on dengue prevention and control, as instructed by the Ministry of Health, dengue cases should fall, and so should the death rate. These messages are conveyed by mobile medical teams who travel around local communities.
What are the difficulties?
Xaysettha district is a commercial area of Vientiane and its residents are mostly government officials, merchants and workers.
They work from Monday to Friday so health authorities often do not meet them when dengue publicity campaigns are taking place. Sometimes the campaigns are postponed until Saturday or Sunday. A delay in interrupting the life cycle of mosquitoes can cause an increase in population size.
It can be observed that villages that have more mosquitoes are likely to have more cases of dengue fever. In addition, the reporting of dengue cases by the village office to the district health office is not always clear and dengue control measures are not always carried out in a timely manner, which is a strong factor in the dengue outbreaks we are currently seeing.
 What are your future plans for combatting dengue fever?
District health authorities must be more proactive in informing people about dengue prevention and the dangers of dengue fever.  Our district plans to set up a WhatsApp group in each unit of the village.
This means the head of the unit and heads of families can share developments in relation to dengue fever, both in their own communities and in the country as a whole, as well as the situation in other countries. The messages conveyed would also include information about ways to get rid of mosquito larvae.

By Xayxana Leukai
(Latest Update September 22, 2022)