BMA urges people to kill mosquito larvae to prevent dengue fever

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) encourages people to destroy dengue mosquito larvae so as to prevent dengue fever in Bangkok.

Director of the Disease Control Division Wanthanee Watthana (วันทนีย์ วัฒนะ) says the prevention of dengue fever in Bnagkok this year is deemed satisfactory as seen by the increasing number of dengue fever patients. Statistics from all hospitals in Bangkok shows that there are 1,870 patients and two deaths during January 1st – June 13nd, 2007. The two deaths were found in Khlong Toei (คลองเตย) and Don Mueang (ดอนเมือง) Districts respectively.

However, Mrs Wanthanee says reports of dengue fever patients from the hospitals are often delayed, resulting in unclear numbers of the patients. The division therefore requests the hospitals to report the number of patients more quickly.

Five districts with dengue fever spreads include Bang Sue (บางซื่อ), Bang Kho Laem (บางคอแหลม), Chatuchak (จตุจักร), Phasi Charoen (ภาษีเจริญ), and Bang Khae (บางแค).

Mrs Wanthanee also calls on people to prevent themselves from dengue fever by destroying larvae breeding sources every seven days as sometimes a spray of insecticide is not enough.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 19 June 2007

I imagine a programme of education is required. The woman who lives next door to us has a whole garden full of what I would politely call shit. Tyres, buckets, half empty plant pots etc. all suitable for breeding mosquitos. I was in there a week or so ago and smoking in the garden, as I puffed I wandered and looked in some of the stuff. All were alive with larvae. When I pointed them out to her (politely of course) she looked at me as if I was an idiot and told me that 'everyone knows that mosquitoes are born in the air while mama is flying around '. I asked her what she thought the wiggly things were, she told me she didn't know but as they hadn't caused any trouble she wasn't bothered.

I don't let any water stand in our garden, we do have some water bamboo but there are a million fish living in the pot and I imagine they take care of the larvae. I offered her a couple of the fish (they breed like billyo) but she declined as they would be too much trouble.