News
Suspected dengue patients in hospitals must have nets to prevent spread of disease
A circular has been issued to state hospitals, in the Colombo city limit, urging them to strictly enforce the of use mosquito nets for suspected dengue patients, Colombo’s Chief medical officer, Dr. Ruwan Wijayamuni said.
The decision follows reports that nearly 13 dengue cases were reported from around the vicinity of the National Hospital in the past 23 days, Dr. Wijayamuni said, adding that the people in and around the hospital area were at risk.”
Explaining further, he said, the dengue virus spreads when the Aedes mosquito bites a person already infected with the disease, becomes a carrier and upon biting others spreads the virus.
“There are several dengue patients receiving treatment at the National Hospital and they need to be kept within a mosquito net, to prevent mosquitoes biting them,” Dr. Wijayamuni said.
He said, other factors such as blocked gutters, curd clay pots and other discarded items that create potential dengue mosquito breeding places could also be contributing factors to the cases being reported.
Dr. Wijayamuni said he was concerned about the slight increase in the number of dengue cases being reported from around dengue high risk zones throughout Colombo city.
Cases were reported from areas inclduing Cinnamon Gardens, Wellawatte North, Pamankada East, Keselwatte, Ginthupitiya, Modara and Mattakkuliya. Ten suspected dengue cases were reported from the Cinnamon Gardens vicinity, for this month.
This brings the number of cases reported from the city of Colombo, up to October 22, this year, to 1945.
However, this is still a 30 percent drop in comparison with 2627 cases reported in the corresponding period last year, Dr. Wijayamuni hastened to add.
On a positive note, he said, however that the situation was currently under control with the city reporting the lowest number of dengue cases in comparison to the corresponding period for the past six years.
“The most number of cases were reported during January and February this year, with 608 cases in January and 327 in February,” he said.
The city saw a drop in dengue cases in June, July and August this year, with 143, 158 and 146 cases being reported respectively.
This was in comparison with 435, 294 and 305 cases reported during the corresponding period last year. The significance of this drop is that usually these three months are considered as one of the dengue peak seasons.
However, have 83 suspected cases were reported this month (upto October 22) which is a slight increase from last month’s 80.
Dr. Wijayamuni is also concerned about the next peak season that is usually from November to January.
“The changing climate patterns have given us cause to worry over a possible increase in the number of cases during the next few months,” he said.
“However the decrease in the number of cases this year, has been incidental and not accidental,” Dr. Wijayamuni said attributing the drop to the numerous dengue programmes carried out during the year.
Health authorities are also testing a “mosquito mega trap”, which they hope will prove effective in the future.
“Mosquitoes usually find their human prey using a combination of sensory signals such as light, shape, colour, heat, movement and other forms of human activity like sweat and breath which contain carbon dioxide (CO2), Dr. Wijayamuni said.
The trap is equipped with a Carbon dioxide canister, A UV and LCD light bulb and also a fragrance stick (which emits an odour similar to that of humans).
All these help mislead the mosquito to the trap and eventually, the insect is killed by a fan in the machine, he said. The machine covers a radius of one acre and health authorities are anxious to see its results.