Khoun Leakhana
The Mekong Times
Although Cambodia has witnessed a dramatic decline in the number of children dying from dengue fever this year, a slight rise in mortality rates has led officials to point to a perpetual lack of understanding of early diagnosis and treatment in rural communities.
The mortality rate was 1.2 percent from January to early June this year compared to only 1 percent for the same period last year, according to a report released yesterday by the National Dengue and Malaria Control Program (NDMCP).
Of the 1,811 cases of children suffering from dengue fever so far this year, 22 were fatal, while during the whole of 2007 the mosquito-born disease attacked more than 40,000 people, 407 said the MDMCP. Most dengue victims are children
“For the fatal cases, we are gravely concerned that they are chiefly related to the lack of awareness of citizens,” DMS Manager Uy Rekol said. “Parents don’t yet understand the symptoms of children suffering from dengue. Sick children are being sent to kru Khmer [traditional healers].”
It’s only when such treatment fails to work well and children’s health worsens that they are sent to hospital, leaving doctors with little opportunity to save their lives, explained Uy Rekol, who also expressed concern about the possibility of dengue fever developing into a more serious form of the illness in Cambodia.
“Scientifically, we have not been able to conclude if dengue will explode this year,” he said. “Although the [severity of] the disease remains at a low level, we feel worried because in Cambodia it can transform to some degree in terms of virology from category 3 to category 2. From my point of view, it could become an epidemic.”
To curb the spread of dengue, Ngan Chanta, deputy director of the National Malaria Center and manager of the National Dengue Control Program, said authorities are educating, helping and urging local residents to keep vigilant for the disease. He said the program has been encouraging the use of insecticides, the anti-larvae solution Albet, and the cleaning of surroundings to destroy mosquito shelters in several provinces including Siem Reap and Kompong Thom.
The National Malaria Center began using about 56 tons of Albet in eight provinces in March and has sent another 80 tons to another 10 provinces.
The mortality rate was 1.2 percent from January to early June this year compared to only 1 percent for the same period last year, according to a report released yesterday by the National Dengue and Malaria Control Program (NDMCP).
Of the 1,811 cases of children suffering from dengue fever so far this year, 22 were fatal, while during the whole of 2007 the mosquito-born disease attacked more than 40,000 people, 407 said the MDMCP. Most dengue victims are children
“For the fatal cases, we are gravely concerned that they are chiefly related to the lack of awareness of citizens,” DMS Manager Uy Rekol said. “Parents don’t yet understand the symptoms of children suffering from dengue. Sick children are being sent to kru Khmer [traditional healers].”
It’s only when such treatment fails to work well and children’s health worsens that they are sent to hospital, leaving doctors with little opportunity to save their lives, explained Uy Rekol, who also expressed concern about the possibility of dengue fever developing into a more serious form of the illness in Cambodia.
“Scientifically, we have not been able to conclude if dengue will explode this year,” he said. “Although the [severity of] the disease remains at a low level, we feel worried because in Cambodia it can transform to some degree in terms of virology from category 3 to category 2. From my point of view, it could become an epidemic.”
To curb the spread of dengue, Ngan Chanta, deputy director of the National Malaria Center and manager of the National Dengue Control Program, said authorities are educating, helping and urging local residents to keep vigilant for the disease. He said the program has been encouraging the use of insecticides, the anti-larvae solution Albet, and the cleaning of surroundings to destroy mosquito shelters in several provinces including Siem Reap and Kompong Thom.
The National Malaria Center began using about 56 tons of Albet in eight provinces in March and has sent another 80 tons to another 10 provinces.
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