2023-07-06 14:10:34
The country has been facing a new dengue fever epidemic since June 3. Everything is done to contain the outbreak, but this also requires the collaboration of the population. There are several ways to avoid mosquito bites and prevent their proliferation.
28This is the number of active cases of dengue fever in Mauritius as of July 5. But since June 3, a total of 88 cases have been recorded, five of which are imported. Day after day, this number continues to increase despite the efforts of the health authorities. However, the population can also contribute to eradicating the epidemic through simple measures, according to Dr Diana Iyaloo, head of the Biological and Vector Control Division of the Ministry of Health.
“We are doing our best to ensure that dengue fever is not endemic in Mauritius and to interrupt transmission,” she adds. However, if the number of cases persists until next year, dengue fever could be considered endemic, just as it is in Reunion, she underlines.
Dr Iyaloo explains that authorities carry out fumigation operations only in areas where cases have been identified to avoid possible collateral damage to other insects. Larviciding is also carried out where it is not possible to remove permanent or semi-permanent water, such as small streams or lakes.
The population can also participate in the efforts of the authorities by carrying out regular cleaning of the courtyards to remove anything that could serve as breeding sites or any container that could contain water. Reservoirs must absolutely be covered and any accumulation of water on the roofs of houses and in gutters must also be avoided.
Contrary to popular belief, mosquitoes do not breed in dirty, stagnant water in canals, according to Dr Iyaloo. This is particularly the case of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes (tiger mosquitoes), vectors of dengue fever and chikungunya, she says. “Mosquitoes like to lay their eggs in relatively clean water. It is often in the courtyards that the team from the Biological and Vector Control Division has captured them”, she specifies.
However, given the population of various species of mosquitoes, including tiger mosquitoes which are in large numbers in Mauritius, it will be impossible to eradicate them all, points out Dr. Iyaloo. “We are trying to reduce their density through fumigation and larviciding. We also raise public awareness,” she says. It is therefore up to everyone to assume their responsibilities.
Beware of disease-carrying mosquitoes
Of the 15 types of mosquitoes, there are three species that are vectors of disease. It is :
Aedes albopictus (tiger mosquito), vector of dengue fever and chikungunya Culex mosquitoes, vectors of lymphatic filariasis, commonly called elephantiasis Anopheles mosquito, vector of the Plasmodium parasite (malaria or malaria).
Pilot project: mixed results
The pilot project to release sterile male mosquitoes at the Champ de Mars to combat the proliferation did not yield the expected results halfway through. The rainy periods in Port-Louis at the beginning of the year were the cause of the death of many male mosquitoes during the experimentation of the Sterile Insect Technique (TIS), launched in October 2022.
So far, the mosquito population has been reduced by 20% instead of 50% as expected, explains Dr. Iyaloo, who remains hopeful about the success of this experiment. If the results are conclusive, the project will be extended to other regions.
Each week, several thousand sterile insects are released into the wild. This exercise will continue for a few more months, and an evaluation will be carried out next year to measure the success of the project. It benefits from the support of the International Atomic Energy Agency and several experts who have provided training on the method and the parameters to be observed in order to carry out the experiment.
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