The Jeddah Mayoralty and General Directorate of Health in Makkah have devised a new plan to combat dengue fever in Jeddah and its surrounding areas. The plan will heavily draw on Malaysia's experience in this regard. The plan envisages that the moment a case is reported a team formed by the joint committee will rush to the scene to isolate and quarantine the affected person, Al-Madina reported on Friday. This measure virtually prevents healthy people from developing the acute viral disease, which is characterized by fever, rashes and caused by flu virus and transmitted by the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito. Most people who develop dengue fever recover completely within two weeks. Some, however, go through several weeks of feeling tiredness and/or depression. The committee has adopted the plan due to the recent rise in number of patients. About 390 cases were recorded till this week, according to the paper. Dr. Sami Badawood, Director of Health Affairs in Jeddah, was quoted by Al-Madina as saying that the plan also includes a thorough study of the medical history of the dengue fever patient. The patient's movements within and outside the Kingdom will be monitored to determine the possible cause of the disease, he said. “The house where any case is spotted will be sprayed by special pesticide. Areas surrounding the house will also get the same treatment to prevent the spread of the viral disease,” he said. Dr Badawood said the incubation period for dengue fever is 3-14 days. Strict enforcement of this plan, he said, will effectively help in reducing the outbreak of the dengue fever by 30 percent. __
