Environmental Management Administration

Continuous torrential rain has recently led to flooding in some regions of the country. As the rain lets up, the true challenge of disease prevention begins. It is still peak season for dengue fever, and the week following rainfall is a critical window for preventing mosquito breeding. Therefore, the Environmental Management Administration (EMA), under the Ministry of Environment, is calling for the public to seize the chance provided by clear weather to thoroughly inspect environments both within and around the household and clean up any standing water that may potentially become mosquito breeding grounds.

Dengue fever is mainly spread through the bite of vector mosquitos, and containers holding water after torrential rain is where mosquitoes and bugs love to breed. In just a week, mosquito larvae in the water can grow into mature mosquitoes capable of spreading the dengue fever virus. Failure to clean up containers holding water in time will cause the population of vector mosquitoes in an area to increase substantially within two weeks, seriously threatening public health in the community. The administration asks the public to actively clean up the environment after rainy weather and implement the measures of “inspect, empty, clean, scrub”:

• Inspect the surrounding environment: carefully inspect vases, plant pot holders, tree holes, discarded tires, plastic tarp, pots and pans, as well as basements and eaves gutters, which are often overlooked.
• Empty water-holding containers: pour water from containers onto dry ground, and make sure not to pour it directly into ditches; emptied containers should be dried properly, placed upside-down, and kept dry.
• Clean up waste of all kinds: containers such as discarded Styrofoam and plastic bottles should be immediately sorted and discarded. For large items such as discarded bathtubs and aquariums, contact the local sanitation team for collection.
• Scrub containers to be kept: aside from being emptied of water, containers that must be kept must be scrubbed hard on the inside, so mosquito eggs are removed from the walls. They should be kept upside down or put away properly. In-use water containers must be regularly scrubbed and washed, and lids or mesh nets must be used.

To prevent floods caused by torrential rain from triggering dengue fever epidemics, governments at all levels are continuously cleaning and disinfecting public spaces as well as unclogging drainage ditches and clearing items that cause standing water. However, aside from depending solely on the government’s monitoring and prevention efforts, the key to putting a stop to dengue fever is in the public’s active participation. Faced with the double threat of heat and rain, the EMA calls for communities to work together in strengthen environmental self-management and stopping vector mosquitoes from breeding to effectively contain dengue fever, ensuring a safe and healthy living environment.