Upon the reoccurrence of the Aedes Aegypti mosquito and the registration of cases of dengue fever in Muscat Wilyats, the Directorate General of Health Services in Muscat Governorate launched a campaign to fight the mosquito in collaboration with Muscat Municipality and other concerned authorities. 

Field teams were formed to investigate locations of the Aedes Aegypti mosquito particularly the breeding sites. The DGHS-Muscat with the cooperation of Muscat Municipality had also published and distributed a large number of brochures in the targeted villages in Muscat aimed at educating people and raising their awareness on the topic.

Moreover, the Department of Diseases Surveillance and Control of the DGHS has intensified their efforts in the current period through conducting experts’ visits to the sites of the insect in addition to carrying out inspection in some houses in Seeb, Bausher, and Al Amerat in collaboration with the respective public municipalities, Walees offices, and other parties. 

Furthermore, a two-day exhibition was held at Muscat Mall under the theme ‘’Be the Change’’ with the aim of identifying risks of the Aedes aegypti mosquitos and supporting thereof the efforts exerted in this regard by creating a community partnership to get rid of this kind of harmful insects. 

To keep track of the accelerated events of the campaign, Dr. Thamra Said Al-Ghafri, Muscat-Health Director General issued an administrative decision to form a working team in controlling the spread of the Aedes mosquito in Muscat Governorate. The decision included specialists and officials from the DGHS, various public directorates of Muscat Municipality, Haya Water, and Oman Environmental Services Holding Company - be'ah.  

The team is concerned with following up the works of Aedes Aegypti’s investigation and control, supervising the implementation of executive work in the breeding habitats in cooperation with the concerned authorities regarding the completion of spraying operations and evaluating the epidemiological situation.

The working team has held a meeting to discuss the epidemiological situation of dengue fever as well follow up and control efforts. The meeting stressed the importance of Environmental sanitation and combating plans in eliminating the mosquito by the disposal of solid wastes, clearing all types of watershed around buildings. The meeting further underlined the necessity of covering water tanks tightly, removing used tires, and getting rid of all empty cans, containers and utensils.

Meanwhile, Dr. Thamra Al-Ghafri stressed the important role of the community in the success of the campaign, underlying the need for community interaction with the organizers.

The Director of Diseases Surveillance and Control Dr. Lamia Al Balushi pointed out that the campaign aims to eliminate actual and potential breeding settings of the mosquito and make the environment unsuitable for mosquitoes to breed.

She added that dengue fever is a viral infection transmitted to human through the bite of the female Aedes aegypti. The disease may cause fever, headache, tiredness, severe fatigue, skin rash, digestive disorder, pain in joints and muscles.

Notably, the National Situation of Vectors and the elimination campaign of Aedes Aegyptus were highlighted last Thursday at MOH headquarters in a meeting that was presided over by H.E. Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Al Saidi, Minister of Health and joined MOH’s Undersecretaries, along with representatives of various government-concerned authorities.