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Enclose dengue victims within mosquito nets to prevent its spread: Chief MOH
Hospitals within Colombo city, both state and private, should place suspected dengue patients under a bed net, to prevent dengue mosquitoes spreading the virus, Colombo’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr Ruwan Wijeyamuni said.
He said several months ago, all hospitals were sent notices to follow the procedure, but many have not done so.
“The Infectious Diseases Hospital and the Negombo Base Hospital that do not come under my purview, are adhering to the precautionary measure. Only one private hospital in Colombo responded to the notice,” he said, adding that many are of the view that a stigma will be attached to it if bed nets are used.
“Hospital premises and surrounding areas are among the leading mosquito breeding places,” he added.
The construction site of the new building complex of the Colombo Dental Institute in Ward Place, the University of the Visual and Performing Arts in Albert Crescent, Colombo 7 and the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation headquarters in Fort, were some locations where mosquito breeding sites were found recently, he said, adding that the disease usually peaked during the rainy seasons from June-July and November-December.
“As the rains continue in December, there is a possibility of the mosquito menace continuing into early next year as well,” he said.
Over 43,000 cases of dengue have been reported by early December this year.
“We are concerned as the number of cases increases year after year. Identifying the disease and good clinical management have resulted in reducing fatalities. But increasing construction sites, poor solid waste management and scattered rains are encouraging mosquitoes to breed,” the Health Ministry’s Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Paba Palihawadane said.
The highest number of dengue cases-44,456 cases were recorded in 2012. However, this year by November, the case count was 43,059. Last year, 32,063 cases were reported. Fatalities vary from 100 to 200, with the highest, 220 deaths, being reported in 2012. Colombo district leads with 13,599 dengue cases, with the majority being from its suburbs.