The Caledonian authorities have confirmed the death of a 25-year-old young woman from dengue fever. He is the first victim of the epidemic raging on the island.
A 25-year-old young woman, residing in the Magenta district in Noumea, died this Thursday, February 9, from dengue fever, also called “tropical flu”. This viral disease is transmitted to humans by mosquitoes of the genus Aedes.
He is the first victim since the start of the epidemic, declared on January 5 on this archipelago of Oceania nicknamed “the Caillou”. This patient had no particular medical history. She had also not traveled in the three weeks preceding her illness, the first symptoms of which appeared on February 4. It is therefore a local case of dengue serotype 1, confirms the Government of New Caledonia.
The advice of the pharmacist is necessary …
And while a hundred new cases are identified every week, thea Department of Health and Social Affairs (DASS) local calls on the Caledonian population to protect themselves from mosquito bites. Spirals, electric diffusers, mosquito nets … all means are good, as long as they are used well, especially for skin repellants.
“Faced with the abundance of products on the market, you have to be well informed,” explains Séverine Page, public health pharmacist at the DASS, in a press release. Some are in fact not very effective, while others are not suitable for babies or pregnant women (see box). “The advice of a pharmacist, both for the choice and for the method of use of the product, is strongly recommended,” she emphasizes.
… to choose the right skin repellent
The active substances contained in the product, their concentration and the profile of the user are the criteria which will guide the choice of this healthcare professional. The instructions for use must also be known and respected: the repellent must be used on exposed parts of the body, not to apply it to a wound, irritated skin, or to the mouth or eyes. But also renew the application more often in case of perspiration, baths or showers, and apply sunscreens about twenty minutes before the repellent. It is also recommended to wash your hands after application and to keep the vials out of the reach of young children.
“The cooperation of the population can have a real impact on the evolution of the dengue epidemic,” concludes the pharmacist. According to her, it is therefore necessary to combine protection against mosquito bites with the fight against the proliferation of mosquitoes by destroying the breeding sites.. This consists of removing any stagnant water in the home by cleaning the gutters and eliminating anything that may contain rainwater around the homes.
The active substances whose efficacy (at a concentration ≥ 20%) and safety have been proven by the French authorities are DEET (N1, N-diethyl-m-toluamide):
– IR3535 (ethyl N-acetyl-N-butyl-β-alaninate);
– KBR3023 (Sec-butyl 2- (2-hydroxyethyl) piperidin-1 / Icaridin carboxylate);
– PMDRBO (mixture of cis- and trans-p-menthane-3.8 diol).
… and those to avoid
It is strongly recommended not to use: anti-insect bracelets, essential oils (potentially toxic and contraindicated for pregnant women and babies, and too volatile to provide long-term protection), plants known as mosquito repellants (Geraniaceae type), ultrasonic sound devices, homeopathy, sticky tapes, papers and stickers without insecticide.
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