The Cambodian Red Cross (CRC) has kick-started a campaign in Preah Sihanouk and Kandal provinces to raise awareness about dengue, a mosquito-borne disease. This move, launched on July 11, aims to encourage improved hygiene and dengue prevention measures among local communities.

The campaign, led by Koam Sokhom, director of the CRC’s Preah Sihanouk branch, in cooperation with local health departments, utilises posters and loudspeakers.

“Dengue fever and chikungunya can affect people of all ages,” warned the CRC.

They urged anyone experiencing symptoms such as high fever or aching muscles to seek professional healthcare promptly. Self-treatment or using over-the-counter drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen were strongly discouraged by the CRC. Instead, they stressed the importance of seeking professional medical help to tackle these diseases.

In Kandal province, the CRC and the health department have been distributing mosquito killer to households and educating residents about cleanliness in order to curb dengue transmission.

“We have covered one district so far,” said Teang Sokun, director of the CRC branch in Kandal province.

He also revealed a concerning figure: 745 dengue cases, including two child fatalities, were recorded in the province in the first half of the year.

The National Dengue Control Programme (NDCP) reported that Cambodia had seen 4,668 dengue cases with 10 deaths in the first six months of the year, nearly double over the same period last year.

Authorities are stepping up their efforts to combat this surge, including spraying mosquito killer in high-risk areas.