This year, there are more than 12,000 cases of dengue fever in China. Experts remind us to pay attention to mosquito control.

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, September 29th (Reporter Hu Hao) According to the figures released by the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention on the 29th, the number of dengue fever cases in China has exceeded 12,000, with 4 deaths. In the face of the epidemic situation, experts reminded that the prevention and control of the epidemic situation requires the general public to cooperate with the elimination of mosquito breeding grounds, and travel should be prepared for mosquito prevention.

Statistics show that as of September 29th, 12,336 cases of dengue fever have been reported in 23 provinces of China, up by 484% over the same period of last year, with 4 deaths, which is the first report of dengue fever deaths since 2005. At present, there are 11867 cases in Guangdong, 145 cases in Yunnan, 119 cases in Fujian and 74 cases in Guangxi, accounting for 99% of the total number of cases in China. The number of reported cases in the other three provinces except Yunnan is higher than that in the same period last year. The main population is young and middle-aged people, accounting for 56% of the total cases from 20 to 50 years old.

Yin Wenwu, a researcher at the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Department of China CDC, said that the high incidence of this year’s epidemic has its climatic reasons. This year, the temperature in southern China is high and there is more rain. The accumulated water is easy to produce conditions suitable for mosquito breeding. Generally speaking, the Bretu index (an index of Aedes mosquitoes density in a region) exceeds 20, which means that once external cases are imported, dengue fever may be prevalent in this region. On the other hand, in recent years, the international epidemic situation of dengue fever has shown a sharp upward trend, and China is also facing greater pressure to import the epidemic situation. In particular, Guangdong, as an international airport, has more personnel exchanges with Southeast Asia, South Asia, Africa, Latin America and other places, and importing cases will also cause the local epidemic of dengue fever.

Regarding the development trend of the next epidemic, Yin Wenwu believes that July to October is usually the high-incidence season of mosquito vectors. From the distribution of previous cases, as the weather turns cold, the epidemic will gradually decline in the middle and late November until it is terminated. But we can’t relax our vigilance, because the epidemic trend is also related to the prevention and control efforts. At present, the number of confirmed cases of dengue fever has exceeded 10,000, and nearly 1,000 cases are added every day. In addition, there are hidden cases, which makes prevention and control more difficult.

"Where there is water, it is easy to breed mosquito vectors." He called on the public to cooperate with the health and disease control departments and participate extensively in the prevention and control of the epidemic. Every household should clean up the environment, especially the places where water may accumulate, such as aquatic animals and plants, pots and pans, so as not to give mosquito vectors a growing environment.

Yin Wenwu also reminded that during the National Day holiday, if you travel to Southeast Asia, South Asia or southern China, you should pay attention to avoiding mosquitoes, put on long-sleeved underwear and use mosquito repellent on exposed skin. If you have symptoms such as fever and rash, you should seek medical advice in time and inform the doctor of your previous travel experience.