BMA, businesses unite in the fight against dengue.

Due to the increase in disease cases, it is necessary to raise public awareness. Publication date: June 17, 2024, 07:21. A special powder is being sprinkled on the water accumulated at the Thai-Japanese Stadium to eliminate mosquito larvae. This event is part of a campaign by the city administration aimed at preventing the number of dengue fever cases, which started in March of last year. (Photo: Nuttawat Wichianbut)

Joint efforts to combat dengue fever

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), in collaboration with the Disease Control Department (DCD), is joining forces with businesses to raise public awareness about dengue fever, which is becoming increasingly prevalent due to global climate change that is expanding the habitat of the mosquitoes that transmit this disease. In honor of the Dengue Fever Day in Southeast Asia, celebrated on June 15, the BMA, along with the DCD and other corporate partners, including Kao Industrial (Thailand) Co Ltd and Takeda (Thailand) Limited, organized an event called "Heroes Against Dengue: To Zero Deaths."

Event objectives

The event took place at the Airava Pattana building, located in the city hall complex in the Din Daeng area, and its aim was to support the initiatives of the World Health Organization (WHO) aimed at achieving zero deaths from dengue fever by 2030.

• Proper sanitary control
• Effective drainage

This will help prevent the breeding of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in their surroundings. Participants were informed about the importance of these measures, especially in light of the fact that short but intense rains caused by the El Niño phenomenon often lead to the formation of clean, stagnant water bodies that are necessary for mosquito breeding.

Statistics of disease cases

From January to May of this year, nearly 30,000 cases of dengue fever were reported. Of these, 29 people died, but it is expected that by the end of the year this number will rise to 280, according to data from the Department of Disease Control (DDC). Tongchai Keeratiyathakorn, the DDC director-general, emphasized the importance of community involvement in breaking the cycle of dengue virus transmission.“By becoming true ‘dengue heroes’ in their communities, everyone can make a contribution,”“he noted.”

Event support

At the event, Bangkok Mayor Chadchart Sittipunt emphasized the city's actions to prevent the spread of the disease, which include:

• Active monitoring
• Destruction of breeding grounds
• Engaging local residents

“Our goal is to ensure that everyone in the community is concerned and informed.”“he said. The event also received support from the Embassy of Japan in Thailand, the National Electronics and Computer Technology Center, the Office of Industrial Zone Affairs of Thailand, Amata Plc, and CP ALL Plc.”