Top Strategies to Prevent Dengue in the Workplace and for Travellers
PUNE: International SOS, the world’s leading health and security services company, has reported an almost 15% increase in requests for dengue-related information and assistance in the first half of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022. With dengue fever on the rise globally, organizations are advised to take proactive measures to safeguard their workforce from the potentially severe viral illness transmitted by mosquitoes.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around half of the global population is at risk of dengue, and there is a potential for a record level of cases worldwide. India is of particular concern, where the spread of dengue has increased by 1312% since 1996. In 2022 alone, over 233,251 cases were reported from 35 states. The neighboring country of Bangladesh is also witnessing a surge in dengue cases linked to prolonged periods of rain and flooding.
Dr. Vikram Vora, Medical Director, Indian Subcontinent at International SOS, emphasized the critical need for widespread awareness of the disease and its prevention to minimize the impact of dengue on individuals and communities. While a majority of those infected are likely to have mild symptoms, some people can require hospitalization, and fatalities are not uncommon. The risk of severe dengue is higher in people who have had past dengue infections. Dengue is primarily prevented by avoiding mosquito bites, and organizations are recommended to conduct dengue risk and impact assessments of their locations of operation as well as the locations their employees travel to.
International SOS provides the top five guidelines for organizations to protect their employees from dengue fever, including pre-travel planning, mosquito bite prevention, environmental control, employee education, and providing medical support.
In conclusion, organizations are urged to be proactive in safeguarding their workforce from dengue, and prevention remains the best strategy against the potentially severe viral illness transmitted by mosquitoes.
