With the dengue epidemic raging to alarming proportions and the people being put on full alert, health officials disclosed yesterday that the National Hospital itself and the Urban Development Authority were among state institutions that were warned by the Colombo Municipal Council’s Public Health Department for having mosquito breeding places.
The warnings came as the number of dengue-related deaths and cases rose at a frightening rate while health officials are struggling to control the situation by sending warning notices and even taking legal action.
Some 170 dengue-related deaths and 16,180 cases have been reported islandwide this year with Gampaha, Kandy and Colombo districts reporting
the highest number of deaths.
More than 80 cases have been filed in courts and around 2,000 warning notices to residences and government institutions in Colombo, a CMC health officer said.
Among the government institutions that are having abandoned lands, waterways, buildings and construction sites that encourage mosquito breeding are the Urban Development Authority and the Land Reclamation Board.
“There are a number of construction sites in the city and most of them have water stagnating places and objects. Recently a construction site in Havelock Town was also given a warning as several dengue cases have been around the area,” he said.
The officer said the National Hospital had been warned to clean its surroundings and the hospital premises itself. “The drains in the hospital are encouraging mosquito breeding and as there are patients it is highly dangerous,” he said.
The health officer also said the present garbage crisis in the city would worsen the situation as containers in the garbage could hold fresh water and thereby encourage dengue mosquito breeding.
All the schools in Colombo have been instructed to organize cleaning campaigns as blocked drains, gutters and garbage may encourage mosquito breeding.
He said bus depots and railway stations especially rail tracks were major mosquito attractors as there were discarded tyres and small containers thrown throughout the rail track by passengers.
Kandys Health Director Dr. S. Gamage said although they were able to control the spreading of dengue in Akurana, there was an increase in Pusselawa, Gampola and Udunuwara. “The most recent deaths were those of two expectant mothers. They were in the Peradeniya hospital for some days and were infected with dengue virus. We found that in the vicinity of the hospital many construction sites that are ideal breeding sites,” he said.
Dr. Gamage said strict actions would be taken against those who encouraged mosquito breeding sites and warnings had been sent to a number of institutions, including the Akurana hospital.
Ratnapura health officials have sent more than 250 warning letters and filed eight cases. Courts and police stations also have been advised to clean up their premises.
The Nugegoda Medical Officer of Health (MoH) said warning notices had been sent to several institutions including the Udahamulla bus depot where discarded tyres were seen all over.
The Maharagama MoH said schools in the division had breeding spots and principals had been directed to act immediately.
Dr. Hasitha Tissera of the Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry said the prevailing unpredictable weather conditions might cause an increase in mosquito breeding and the public should be on full alert. |
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