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Dengue predicted to rebound with seasonal rains
Heavy showers being experienced in several parts of the island will likely increase the number of dengue cases in the coming weeks, health officials have warned.
They renewed their calls for proper disposal of garbage and clearing of mosquito breeding places to prevent dengue resurgence.
According to the Health Ministry’s Epidemiology Unit, the total number of cases reported this year as of Friday is 149,654. During the last week of August 2,638 dengue cases were reported. This indicated a drop in the number of cases when compared to some 8,000 cases reported every week in July.
Dengue Control Unit Consultant Community Physician Dr. Preshila Samaraweera told the Sunday Times that they were expecting an increase in the number of cases in the coming weeks and months with the rains to be experienced in the Northern and Eastern provinces. But health officials were trying to control the spread of the disease by carrying out an aggressive clean-up campaign throughout the country.
Dr. Samaraweera called on the public to cooperate with health officials and said garbage disposal should be done properly as it could be a contributory factor in breeding dengue mosquitoes.
Batticaloa’s regional epidemiologist Dr. Dharshini Murugupillai said that except for one or two isolated cases there has not been any major dengue outbreak in the district. However, she said that with the onset of inter-monsoonal rains, they were expecting more cases.
She said the city had no place to dump its garbage following a court order and with the rains starting “we fear that non-degradable plastic containers may increase mosquito breeding places, leading to a major outbreak.”
Dr. Murugupillai said health officials were conducting clean up campaigns with the aim of minimizing the number of cases.
The Epidemiology Unit’s Panadura regional director said that 6,230 cases have been reported so far for the year while 335 cases were reported so far this month.
The official said they were expecting an increase in the number of cases in the coming weeks following recent rains.
A spokesperson for the Sabaragamuwa province Director of Health Services said the number of cases there was a decline in the number of cases in the recent weeks while no deaths had been reported.
He said 100 health inspectors would lead clean-up campaigns next week throughout the province in a bid to reduce the number of breeding places. The National Dengue Control Unit said that the National Dengue Control Week is scheduled to be held from September 20-26.