“Effective Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever Management in Buleleng Regency through Wolbachia Program”

Singaraja, The management of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) in Buleleng Regency is a serious concern from the Buleleng Regency Government (Pemkab) through the Buleleng Regency Health Office (Dinkes). This is proven through various programs, namely the production and management system of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes with Wolbachia which will be launched this year, estimated from October to November 2023.

Head of Disease Prevention and Control I Gede Artamawan, Thursday, May 4 2023, explained that the process of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes with Wolbachia is still in the deepening stage at the Denpasar laboratory, after which the distribution will be carried out in stages in every village in Buleleng Regency.

He emphasized that this technology is considered effective. This is because Wolbachia itself can stop the replication of the dengue virus. This means that the Wolbachia bacteria can immobilize the dengue virus, so that if an Aedes aegypti mosquito feeds on blood containing the dengue virus, it will be resistant so it will not spread to the human body. Apart from being efficient and effective, he ensures that Wolbachia is safe, its bite will not affect human health.

“It is hoped that after the application of this technology, later all mosquitoes, especially carriers of DHF, will be able to contain Wolbachia so that no mosquitoes will carry the virus again,” he said.

Kabid Artamawan added that later with Wolbachia’s innovation it would not necessarily eliminate the existing dengue prevention and control methods. Communities are still asked to carry out 3M Plus movements such as Draining, Closing, and Recycling as well as maintaining personal and environmental hygiene. Because it is proven from the good management of the 3M Plus program that the number of DHF cases in Buleleng Regency has decreased in the last 3 years.

In addition, his party will also plan to make supervision whose origin is in the family itself by forming 1 larva monitoring officer (Jumantik) in 1 family in each village, this is felt to make the 3M Plus program more effective.

“Even though later we are optimistic that with Wolbachia’s innovation, the number of dengue fever will decrease, but we will continue to carry out technical efforts that are already in the program, such as 3M Plus,” he concluded. (KMS)