Since 2005, the Rotary Club of Ft Collins, CO has been working with Rotary clubs in Guatemala on Dengue education and prevention programs. Dengue disease is caused by a virus that is transmitted by mosquitoes resulting in thousands of infections and hundreds of deaths each year in Guatemala. Unfortunately, there is no treatment or vaccine available so prevention is critical. The mosquito that transmits Dengue tends to live in and around houses and breeds in clean stagnant water that collects in water containers, plant pots and trash in and around the house.
The Rotary programs, which have been conducted in conjunction with the Rotary clubs in Gualan, Chiquimula and Los Amates, are focused on community education and awareness to try to engage the entire population in reducing mosquito breeding sites by scrubbing water containers once-a-week to get rid of mosquito larvae and encourage citizens to eliminate other mosquito breeding sites.
In addition, the Rotary clubs have begun a pilot project to install insecticide-impregnated curtains in homes to reduce mosquito numbers indoors. For more information on these efforts or if you are interested in providing financial support, please contact Claude Piche at claude.piche@gmail.com.
To learn more about Dengue in Guatemala, please click here or here.
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