Beware of dengue, say health officials

Health officials warn that if proper precautions against mosquito menace are not taken, there would be a dengue epidemic this year. Health Ministry Epidemiology Unit Deputy Director Dr. Paba Palihawadane said that although there is still no outbreak, 509 cases have been reported from January 1 from around the country especially in the Colombo, Gampaha and Kurunegala districts.

Colombo Municipal Council Chief Medical Officer Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam said that only in January more than 25 cases have been ‘officially’ reported.“The CMC had a very good mosquito control system. But we have a huge problem here in the last three months of 2007. Mosquito control work stagnated as there were inadequate funds to pay overtime. Usually fogging takes place in the evening and most of the labourers work overtime from around 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. We are also in need of 200 labourers but have only 55,” he said.

He said that mosquito control in Colombo comprising roadside spraying and collection of discarded items entails a huge workload with the same staff having to undertake fogging in the evening. In the Southern Province, dengue patients have increased in Matara district and Galle district has reported a large number.

Southern Province health director Dr. J.D.Senarath said strict laws are enacted under the Mosquito Breeding Prevention Act.“We are acting according to it and in order to control the breeding of mosquitoes and ensure that dengue does not turn into an epidemic we are ready to take legal action,” he said.

There have been a few deaths reported from Matara but it has still not been confirmed whether the deaths occurred due to dengue fever. In the Central Province, 17 cases of dengue have been reported this year – nine from Kandy district and eight from Matale district.

Central Province health director Dr. Shanthi Samarasinghe said in 2007 around 470 dengue cases were reported.“Due to awareness programmes and the destruction of breeding areas, we were able to bring down the number in a huge way. We hope to bring down the number of cases again but public support is much needed,” she said.

Sabaragamuwa Province health director Dr. Kapila Kannangara said there was an increase in dengue cases in the Ratnapura district adding that Mawanella, Warakapola and Kegalle areas in Kegalle district too have become vulnerable.