UAE health authorities have eliminated a total of 409 locations where mosquitoes that cause dengue fever were found, according to a senior government official on Wednesday.
Concerns about dengue fever arose after heavy rainfall, which resulted in the flooding of numerous neighborhoods in the UAE, creating stagnant water pools that could easily become breeding grounds for mosquitoes. The Aedes aegypti mosquito transmits dengue fever, which is a viral infection.
On Wednesday, Abdul Rahman bin Mohamed Al Owais, the Minister of Health and Prevention, addressed the issue during a Federal National Council (FNC) session, stating that several measures have been implemented to combat dengue fever in the UAE. Al Owais mentioned that the Ministry of Health and Prevention (Mohap) used advanced GPS technologies to map and eradicate mosquito breeding sites throughout the country in response to a question from an FNC member. Additionally, nine specialized teams from the Emirates Health Services were dispatched across the northern emirates to support the nationwide anti-dengue campaign. Furthermore, an insect laboratory was established to assess mosquito samples and test the efficacy of pesticides.
Mohap also conducted over 1,200 mosquito surveys in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority, analyzing 309 DNA samples to aid in the fight against dengue fever.
