We have a skeletal staff in office that manages to run the operations of the tasks that are incumbent to be completed daily. Each one saddled with several responsibilities which in Corporate parlance is – multi-tasking !!!

One day the boss informed my colleague to take on the responsibility of another colleague’s tasks as he had reported ill. “All in a day’s work”, thought my colleague on duty and very enthusiastically accepted to stand in for the ailing colleague.

But when a day turned into a couple of days, the on-duty colleague’s enthusiasm seemed to dwindle. Loaded with additional responsibilities of multi-tasking for oneself and the absent colleague, was telling on the performance of the on-duty colleague.

A discreet enquiry with the boss let the cat out of the bag. Our absent colleague was down with dengue and would not be reporting to work for a more couple of days.

In the meanwhile our boss informed further that our office peon and the receptionist too would not be reporting for duty as they too were ill with dengue. For once we all realised that the fever did not discriminate. Dengue mosquitoes were affecting the senior and the junior, poor and the rich, the old and the young.

A climate-sensitive mosquito-borne disease, Dengue fever, caused by the bite of infected female Aedes mosquitoes that tend to lurk in dark areas (closets, behind curtains, under beds) can be prevented by the below mentioned precautions:

• Turn over empty pails and buckets so that they do not collect excess water.
• Cover the buckets and drums that are used for storing water.
• Clean out all empty flower pots.
• Ensure you do not over water potted plants.
• Clean and empty water bowls of domestic pets at home and the water bowls of birds in the balcony.
• Repair broken septic tanks and cover vent pipes with wire mesh if any.
• Discard the plants that you keep in water at home.
• Wear clothes that can cover you completely. Wear long-sleeved shirt, long pants and closed-toe shoes instead of sandals.
• Apply mosquito repellents whenever possible or wear mosquito patches.
• The mosquitoes that carry the dengue viruses are most active from dawn to dusk; keep windows and doors closed during theses hours.
• If you have a cooler at home, make sure you clean it regularly.
• Keep the dustbins clean; do not let any dirt get collected to avoid mosquitoes.
• Light camphor as it will help in keeping the mosquitoes away.
• Sleep under a mosquito net.