There were 282 cases of dengue fever reported in Arakan State this year from January to July 26, according to a source from the state’s Department of Public Health (DPH).

The Arakan State capital Sittwe accounted for 95 of those cases, with Thandwe Township reporting 60 cases, Kyaukphyu Township tallying 26 cases and Rathedaung logging 27 cases.

The remainder of the cases were spread across a handful of other townships in Arakan State.

“The health department is also spraying the affected areas around houses. It is important to change the water to keep your home and environment clean,” said an official from the Arakan State Department of Public Health’s Disease Control and Prevention Team.

To prevent the spread of dengue fever, people need to keep mosquitoes out of their homes, said the official from the team.

“Dengue fever is caused by mosquito bites during the daytime. Children need mosquito nets when sleeping during the daytime. The home environment needs to be kept clean to prevent mosquitos,” the official added.

A mosquito-borne tropical disease, dengue fever can infect all people, regardless of age or gender, but is most common among children under age 15.

Every year, the health department conducts health education beginning in February, said officials from the department.

There were 421 cases of dengue fever and one death in Arakan State last year, according to the state DPH.

According to figures from the DPH, Arakan State reported 1,808 dengue fever cases and eight deaths in 2019.