Dengue Fever

What is the most scary thing in Penang at the moment?
Mosquito bite !!!!!!!!! especially Aedes aegypti mosquitoes !!!!!!!!!!!
(From what I remember, there's 4 serotypes of Aedes species )

Too many dengue cases lately.. and so many patients dying cos of dengue hemorrhagic fever.. In fact, Penang is now the "hot spot" for dengue fever. :(

Frankly speaking, I'm now really phobia of mosquitoes...

Last Saturday, I went to Secret Recipe @ Bayan Baru to meet up with three old university friends.. We know each other since 1993 or 1994.. Then we visited one of my friend's apartment. Aiyoh, after coming down from her apartment around 5:45 pm, I almost get bitten by one aedes mosquito. When I entered the car, I noticed this Aedes mosquito landing on my right forearm. Luckily I acted pretty fast and manage to kill the mosquito before it "attacked" me :P It's the Aedes mosquitoes cos I can see clearly the black and white stripes on the legs...

I have see and treated so many patients with Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (which can be fatal in certain cases...). And we have lost few patients cos of this.. The sad thing is these group of patients are "not very responsive" to resuscitation. Despite all the efforts and hard work given, (including the necessary blood products transfusion) trying to save them, they still succumbed towards the end. I do believe/suspect there's a "new"resistant strain of Aedes emerging, which cause severe "capillary leakage"...

Nowadays, the allocated wards in the hospital are "overflow" with patients already; there are numerous Dengue Fever patients.... although a number of them are actually viral fever..

Some tips to follow or remember :

• Aedes mosquitoes mostly bite at certain hours ~ dusk till dawn. Avoid going outdoors or doing exercise during these peak biting hours. And remember, exercise produce sweat, CO2, lactic acid and heat, which will attract mosquitoes..
  
• Try to wear long sleeves light coloured clothing, long pants or socks when going outdoor, cos this will help to reduce the chances of getting mosquito bites. Avoid wearing dark coloured clothings cos these attract mosquitoes.
  
• If possible, use Insect Repellent on exposed skin when going outdoors, especially when going to places with possiblity of getting mosquitoes bite(s). The most effective compound is DEET (N,N-diethyl meta-toluamide), an ingredient in most insect repellents.Even a short duration outdoors can expose one to mosquito bite. Don't apply insect repellent under the clothes. Avoid applying insect repellent to portions of the hands that are likely to come in contact with the mouth and eyes.
• Avoid or stay away from clear, stagnant water (These are aedes mosquitoes breeding ground)
• Seek medical treatment if having continuous high fever, muscle pain (myalgia), bone and joint pain (dengue fever is also known as "breakbone fever"), pain behind the eyes (retro orbital pain), red spots or rashes or petechiae on the skin, and bleeding tendencies...
• And remember, prevention is better than cure... Get rid of all the possible Aedes breeding grounds !! And don't merely depends on fogging, cos the Aedes is quite "immune" or "not susceptible" to fogging already. And bear in mind, fogging doesn't kill the mosquitoes larvaes in stagnant water.
  
• And up-to-date, there's no antiviral therapy or vaccine for dengue !