Health

Dengue, Malaria, Chikungunya Are Here Amid Spike In COVID Cases; What Can Be Done?

By
OB Bureau

New Delhi: Like every year,  the cases of vector-borne diseases like dengue, malaria, and chikungunya are on the rise in several states of the country even while India is fighting the coronavirus pandemic. Identifying symptoms of vector-borne diseases, while ruling out COVID-19 has become a challenge for the medical fraternity.

What are vectors?

Vectors are small organisms such as mosquitoes, bugs, and ticks that can carry a disease from person to person and place to place. Disease such as malaria, dengue, and chikungunya which can be spread by these vector bites is known as vector-borne disease.

Waterlogging in the monsoons is a perfect breeding condition for mosquitos, thus increasing the risk of its spread that becomes even higher in areas with hygiene issues.

Dengue

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne viral disease that is caused by the dengue virus. It is transmitted through the bites of Aedes mosquitoes. The people infected with dengue have mild or no symptoms. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 75 per cent of people infected with dengue don’t show any symptoms, while 20 percent have mild symptoms and 5 per cent might develop severe symptoms, which can be life-threatening.

Malaria

Caused by parasites that are spread among humans through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes, malaria is a life-threatening, yet preventable and curable, disease that accounted for close to 23 crore infections and about 4 lakh deaths in 2019.

Malaria is endemic to India, but the country has reported a significant drop in numbers in recent years. Citing the WHO World Malaria Report 2020, the Union health ministry had said in December last year that “India has contributed to the largest drop in cases region-wide, from approximately 20 million to about 6 million”. It added that malaria cases dropped by 71.8 per cent while deaths declined by 73.9 per cent between 2000 to 2019.

Chikungunya

It’s a viral disease transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes. The mosquitoes which cause the infection bite during the day, usually just after sunrise and around sunset. The most common symptoms of infection are fever and joint pain. Other symptoms may include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash.

Tips to Prevent Dengue Fever, Chikungunya and Malaria
  1. Keep your bodies covered with long-sleeve shirts and full pants.
  2. Apply EPA-approved mosquito repellent to avoid dengue infection from mosquito bites.
  3. If possible, apply fabric-friendly mosquito repellents.
OB Bureau

Recent Posts

LS Polls: JMM Nominates Anjani Soren For Odisha’s Mayurbhanj Seat

Bhubaneswar: The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has announced Anjani Soren as its candidate for Lok…

March 28, 2024

IESA Signs MoU With Bhubaneswar’s BCKIC To Work In Critical Minerals & Energy Sector

Bhubaneswar: India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Bhubaneswar City Knowledge…

March 28, 2024

Vigilance Nabs OSD In Odisha’s Nuapada Collectorate While Taking Bribe Of Rs 30,000

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Vigilance on Thursday apprehended an officer in the collectorate of Nuapada district while…

March 28, 2024

Odisha Javelin Star Kishore Jena Set For Diamond League Debut; Neeraj Chopra Among Strong Field

Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s star javelin thrower Kishore Jena had a stellar season in 2023. And he’s…

March 28, 2024

LS Polls In Odisha: Waiting For Party Order, Says BJP’s Bargarh MP After Not Getting Renomination

Bhubaneswaer: Odisha's senior BJP leader and Bargarh MP Suresh Pujari on Thursday said he was…

March 28, 2024

Catch ’Em Young: Hockey Summer Camp At Rourkela’s Birsa Munda Stadium; Check Details

Rourkela: There is good news for Odisha youngsters who are dreaming of playing hockey for…

March 28, 2024

Mercury Rises To 39 Degree Celsius In 5 Places Of Odisha; Paralakhemundi Hottest

Bhubaneswar: Continuing its upward trend, the mercury touched 39 degree Celsius in 5 places in…

March 28, 2024

IISc Researchers Develop Material With Potential To Replace Sand In Construction

Bengaluru: In what could be a major breakthrough, researchers at Indian Institute of Science (IISc) here…

March 28, 2024