Issue, 32, Dengue Fever, published on August 2007.

Dengue Fever

During the monsoon season of 2007, Cambodia recorded its most severe dengue outbreak in a decade. More than 400 Cambodians died and more than 40,000 were infected by the disease, which is spread via daytime-feeding mosquitoes.

PSP responded to the crisis with an emergency edition of Health Messenger. Produced in record time, it reached health centres as the outbreak was reaching its peak, and provided health centre staff with vital information on diagnosis, treatment and prevention of dengue.

Children face the greatest risk of contracting this disease, but with some simple measures its spread can be controlled. This edition of Health Messenger included vital information for both families and health centre staff on what to do in their homes and communities to prevent the spread of dengue.

It featured pilot programmes taking place in Cambodia, including the successful guppy programme. Just two or three guppy fish in a water jar is enough to eliminate mosquitoes. Dengue experts are using the pilot as a model to scale up throughout the region, and hopefully bring an end to the yearly epidemic of dengue fever.