At CAEMBA, we are aware of the importance of a culture of prevention in public health matters. Therefore, together with the «Atacames Against Dengue Foundation,» we delivered six masks to the Ministry of Public Health (MSP). We made this delivery to prevent the occurrence of a syndemic (multiple epidemics occurring together), meaning that Covid-19 is compounded by dengue, transmitted by the bite of the Aedes aegypti vector.
It is very risky for there to be a syndemic between both diseases because Covid-19 and dengue produce similar symptoms (fever, muscle pain, headache, and fatigue). However, the treatment for both diseases is very different in each case. It is practically the opposite.
The combined impact of Covid-19 and dengue epidemics could have potentially devastating consequences on the at-risk population. It is expected that during the first year of the pandemic, the tropical climatic factor will not play a significant role in modulating the circulation of Covid-19.
To prevent this, it is essential to reduce the sources of mosquito breeding grounds (stagnant water) and implement adult control measures that should be developed in affected areas or where there is a high incidence of dengue.
The spatial application of insecticides (fogging) is necessary with the aim of quickly eliminating the adult mosquito population and reducing dengue transmission. Insecticides prequalified by the World Health Organization (WHO) are also recommended.
To carry out all this work, the MSP did not have special masks for working in spatial fogging. Therefore, from CAEMBA, we donated several masks so that the MSP can work properly.
