MALAYSIA’S war on dengue has now become doubly urgent with reports from Singapore of over 40 confirmed cases of the Zika virus fever on the island. Why? Because both these vector-borne viruses are spread by the Aedes mosquito. While on the one hand, it is arguably fortunate because of the country’s battle to eliminate dengue, it is, on the other, a fearsome prospect for the country because the Zika virus is an insidious enemy, one that fools the sufferer into thinking that it’s a mild case of influenza (flu) — fever, aches and pains — accompanied by conjunctivitis. One cannot blame victims for the indifference because everyone has had a bout of flu, what more conjunctivitis. Unfortunately, it is not that simple. The public must be educated on the real dangers that this relatively new virus poses.
Where there are epidemics — Brazil and Puerto Rico — babies of Zika virus victims are sometimes born with microcephaly, characterised by abnormally small heads and brains. Naturally, they grow up physically debilitated and more often than not, die prematurely. In adults, it can give rise to a neurological disorder, the Gullain-Barre syndrome. A baby in Miami, the United States, with the virus, though seemingly normal, has calcification in the brain. Stepping up the war against the Aedes mosquito, therefore, is obligatory. Anything less, on the part of the authorities and the people, is surely a dereliction of duty. Indeed, the Health Ministry is attempting to stop the virus from entering the country. Screening of incoming passengers at all entry points is on again, especially those from countries with confirmed cases of the illness. They will be issued with health alert cards. Surveillance and management of the virus are also being increased and Zika alerts as well as administration directives have been issued to state Health departments, associations, hospitals and private laboratories since last February. And, naturally too, the authorities are asking Malaysians to take preventive measures seriously, like using mosquito-repellent salves and brightly-coloured clothes. Those returning from visits to countries with epidemics are asked to refrain from sex for at least eight weeks. And, most importantly, the environment must be kept clean.
The ministry is urging medical practitioners to adopt “a high index of suspicion” and to screen patients for the virus. But are general practitioners equipped to recognise a new disease to the country? Malaysia is in effect facing a catch-22 situation. People with apparent symptoms must be screened, but can hospitals cope if more patients are referred to them? To heighten concern to panic levels is not advisable, but the threat to health the disease poses is too serious to be careless about. Public education then is very important with emphasis on prevention, thus killing two diseases with one stone. A heavy burden then is placed on local authorities to, for example, undertake regular light fogging and premises inspection because cleanliness is the key to forever eliminating Aedes, the primary vector.