JEDDAH — Director of Jeddah Health Affairs Dr. Sami Badawood said there were 252 new dengue fever
infections in the city last week, Al-Hayat newspaper reported.

He said the Ministry of Health is treating all infected cases and a ministerial meeting has discussed a preventive plan to deal with the current situation.

The meeting resulted in the approval of additional funds for combating dengue fever and to increase the number of fumigation teams.

He pointed out that there are a number of locations where stagnant water is gathering in Jeddah.

In addition, construction sites usually have open water pools that are are ideal breeding locations for mosquitoes. He said there are also a number of abandoned houses with swimming pools and fountains where mosquitoes breed, but access to these sites requires approval from the governorate.

A number of construction workers have been stricken with  dengue fever and according to officials these infections were due to the incorrect storage of water at construction sites. — SG