By:
• Nhek Sreyleak

• September 11, 2024 , 5:15 PM

PHNOM PENH – Health Minister Chheang Ra has called on officials to pay closer attention to dengue fever and other infectious diseases, emphasizing the need to enhance public health education and awareness. 

Speaking at the high-level meeting on September 9, Chheang Ra highlighted the threat of dengue to people’s livelihoods, particularly in the rainy season, stressing the importance of disease prevention efforts. 

Dengue fever, caused by serotypes DENV1, DENV2, DENV3 and DENV4, is transmitted by female Aedes mosquitoes. 

Leang Rithea, director of the National Dengue Control Program (NDCP) said people of all ages can be affected, with children aged up to 15 being particularly vulnerable. 

According to data from NDCP, there were 12,038 reported cases in the first eight months of 2024, down 7,023 on the same period last year. 

“Despite this decline, the team continuously educates the public on disease prevention strategies,” Leang Rithea said. 

“Dengue fever outbreaks tend to peak every five to seven years. Although this year was expected to be severe, timely prevention efforts made by the ministry helped mitigate the impacts. 

“The decline of dengue cases this year is thanks to better preparation since the beginning of the year by spraying insecticides in various locations and ongoing public health education.” 

Dengue fever patients usually experience a fever of 39-40 degrees. Other symptoms include headache, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, swollen glands, rash, or pain behind the eyes. 

Rithea asked people to seek timely treatment at public hospitals if symptoms appear.    

He said effective prevention requires destroying mosquito breeding sites, including abandoned tires and old cans, where larvae could reproduce. 

In 2023, more than 30,000 cases of dengue fever were reported, marking an increase from previous years. 
 

Originally written in Khmer for ThmeyThmey, this story was translated by Rin Ousa for Cambodianess.