ABSTRACT
From June 2006 to May 2007, mosquito surveys were conducted in Thanlyin Township, Yangon City, Myanmar, to determine factors influencing the abundance of Aedes aegypti (Stegomyia aegypti) during the rainy season. Both the biological and environmental factors were included in this study. Increase in the hatchability of egg, larval survival rate, the shortened larval life-span and increased pupation rates supplemented by rainfall (i.e. continuous flooding of the containers, stimulate the continuous hatching of eggs) were observed for correlation with the increase in population density of Ae. aegypti during the rainy season in the study area. Control strategy of Ae. aegypti to analyze the infestation in the community (study area) with larval Ae. aegypti, integrated management measures including health education, attitudes and practices regarding dengue and dengue haemorrhagic fever, transmission of the disease and possible preventive measures, reduction of breeding sites and testing the efficacy of Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (B.t.i.) with respect to the reduction level of Ae. aegypti larvae in breeding sources, were taken into consideration.
ABSTRACT
A field trial of efficacy of local compression immobilization first-aid technique in 42 Russell's viper bite cases was studied and only 19 were envenomed. Proper immobilization was carried out in 3/13 immobilized cases. The average time of application of the pad was 1.12 hours (range 5 minutes to 7 hours) and the total duration of the pad application was 3 hours 40 minutes (range 30 minutes to 9 hours). Venom levels measured at the hospital before and at 15 and 30 minutes after release of the pad (n=10) showed a rise of 5 to 30 ng/ml of venom following release. Movement of venom antigen was found to be retarded in all cases (n=9) whose venom levels were measured at 15 and 30 minutes with the pad in place. Sixteen out of 19 cases had systemic envenoming, indicating that pad or immobilization alone is not effective in delaying spread of venom. The incidence of local necrosis 3/42 (8%) following use of the pad was comparable to that of the systemic cases without the pad. No ill effects were observed following its application for as long as 9 hours. Local blackening seen in 4/36 (10%) cases was likely to be result of a local venom effect.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Animals , Child , Female , First Aid , Humans , Immobilization/adverse effects , Male , Middle Aged , Pressure , Daboia , Snake Bites/therapy , Viper Venoms/bloodABSTRACT
Malaria is one of the main health problems in the non-immune immigrant workers and army personnel of the malaria endemic areas in Myanmar. Due to changes in the vector bionomics and multiresistant strains of P. falciparum, chemoprophylaxis alone is not an effective means of control of malaria in them. So it is envisaged that the combined used of personal protective measures (deltamethrin impregnated bed-nets, scalves and hand-bands) and the chemoprophylaxis will be an effective means of control of malaria in the define group of people. The study also intended to find out the side effects of the deltamethrin and feasibility and acceptability of methods by the users. The study was conducted in Theini Township, Northern Shan State, from March to November 1993. The study population consisted of all ages of both sexes 554 and 440 persons in the test and control groups respectively. At the initial phase of the study, malaria infected persons from both the groups were treated. The experimental group received personal protective measures with impregnation of bed-nets using 25 mg ai/m2 of deltamethrin at 4 monthly intervals and the scarves and hand-bands at twice the concentration of the insecticides at monthly intervals. Chemoprophylaxis was given to both the groups at weekly intervals using age adjusted dosage of Pyrixine tablet (sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine). The parasitological, entomological, and epidemiological indices were collected at two month intervals in both the groups. The study clearly showed the impact of personal protective measures and chemoprophylaxis on malaria infection in the studied subjects. During the study period, the out patient malaria cases of the test group was 6% to 11.2% and that of the control group was 12% to 21.6% in Theini Hospital. The reinfection rate of the test group (0.9 to 4.7%) was also significantly lower than the control group (6.1 to 14.3%) from July to November. Acceptance of the treated bed-nets, scarves and hand-bands was high and good compliance was found in the follow up. The results of the study clearly showed that malaria can be controlled effectively in the defined group of persons for a malaria transmission season by using chemoprophylaxis and personal protective measures.