During the monsoons, mosquitoes find safe places like stagnant water and piles of garbage for breeding. As a result, many cases of dengue fever in your city have been noticed. More than a thousand victims have been hospitalized in different parts of the city. You are Varun/Varsha, a responsible citizen. Write a letter in about 100-120 words, to the editor of a local daily, emphasizing the need to create awareness of the problem of dengue, its causes, prevention and treatment.
14 Nov, 20××
Times of India
Subject: Dengue – Prevention is better than cure!
In the past month, an alarming increase in the incidence of dengue cases in the city has been noticed which is a cause for extreme concern and demands immediate attention of the Health Care Department, Municipal Corporation as well as of the general public.
Dengue is a viral infection caused by a group of viruses, represented by DENV, that are transmitted from an infected to a healthy person when an Aedes mosquito bites. This mosquito serves as a carrier of the disease.
High fever is a discernible symptom and may lead to complications due to lowering of the platelet count. Any bleeding during the infection would be difficult to control. Severe cases may require blood transfusions.
Since, the carrier mosquito breeds in stagnant waters, close to human habitations, cleanliness of the environment is immensely important and a key precaution for prevention. Vaccination is not an option and any previous infection does not guarantee immunity as there are numerous viruses that cause it.
Awareness is immensely important to initiate preventive measures and in this light, I hope my letter will be published for the common good of the people.