JEDDAH: The recent increase in cases of dengue fever in the southern districts of Jeddah is due to an inadequate amount of drinking water to the area, according to Amer Hamzah Asseri of the Biochemistry Department at King Abdulaziz University (KAU) who is also supervisor of the Municipality Fumigation and Research Program.
Asseri said the Ministry of Health estimates that there have been about 400 cases of dengue fever since the beginning of the year. The districts that have faced the biggest dengue threat include: Karantina, Jamiah, Madain Al-Fahd, Nuzla Yemania and Nuzla Al-Sharqiah.
"The weekly water distributed to residents in the southern area is not enough, therefore these residents are forced to keep large open containers of water for home use," said Asseri.
Standing water is literally a breeding ground for disease-carrying mosquitoes. Asseri said a general lack of awareness on proper water-storage techniques is helping spread the disease.
Residents can avoid turning the home water storage containers into nurseries for mosquito larvae by keeping water covered, regularly cleaning out containers and even adding drops of bleach to the stored water.
Asseri said the municipality has deployed about 350 workers to educate families in the affected areas about the proper way to store drinking water. The municipality is also continuing its fumigation campaign, which includes educating the public about the needs to cooperate in this regard. Local imams have also been instructed to educate their congregations.
Asseri said some residents have not minced words with municipal employees who approach them to raise awareness or fumigate homes.
"We have been scolded and blamed for the cases for dengue fever and the fact that Jeddah isn't kept clean," he said. "We have been cursed and have had garbage thrown at us. Many people have begun to hate the municipality, but we just want to tell people that we are not to blame; we are here to help."
By SARAH ABDULLAH
© Arab News 2010
