World Mosquito Day: Did you get poked by Dengue Mosquito on Facebook?

Dengue Mosquito has its own FB profile. But unlike the others, this mosquito stands for a cause.

This morning, I got an unusual notification on Facebook saying that someone had "poked me." What was bizarre was not the poke itself but whom I received it from -- Dengue Mosquito.

Soon a friend request from the mosquito followed, and what I saw next --in common click bait parlance-- blew my mind! Today is the 20th of August. Every year, on this day, World Mosquito Day is observed. And what seemed like a practical joke was a well-timed, well-intentioned campaign by Godrej's HIT and Apollo Group of Hospitals to bring public attention toward the bane of dengue and resultant platelet loss. Here is a screengrab of the Facebook page:

The profile page aims at creating awareness about platelet donation since one of the biggest complications of dengue is the platelet loss that follows. Through the initiative, HIT and Apollo Group of Hospitals intend to build an online community of platelet donors by inspiring people to register as donors. This could help save lives of dengue patients who are in critical conditions.

(Read:10 practical tips to be mosquito-free and prevent dengue!)

Dengue virus can cause a sharp drop in platelet count, which can cause internal bleeding and related complications. Although a chronic problem in dengue survivors, platelet shortage can turn fatal if the count drops below 20k. The normal platelet count in a healthy individual is anywhere between 150k and 400k.

(Read: 5 foods that will help raise platelet count)

One of the biggest hassles caregivers of dengue patients face is arranging for platelets during such emergencies. Unlike blood, platelets don't have a long shelf life and they cannot be stored for more than five days. Hence, the ready availability of fresh donors is a pressing need. Through the online community, donors can come forward and donate their platelet according to blood type, as and when it is required. To save a life, you can visit Godrej Hit website and click on 'Track the Bite' to register yourself. You will be notified when there is a requirement of your platelet type.

(Read: 7 signs of dengue shock syndrome)

Image source: Facebook, Shutterstock