News
Rapid rise in dengue cases, again
There has been a sharp rise in deadly dengue this year.
So far, more than 44,000 dengue cases have been reported compared with 37,587 cases last year in the eight months to August, statistics from the Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health, show.
Several deaths too have been reported this year, but the Epidemiology Unit has not said how many.
The number of reported dengue cases have started to increase from March this year compared with the last year.
Data for August show that there were 8,883 cases reported. Last year in August there were only 4,293 cases.
In April there were 2,970 cases, surpassing the 2018 dengue statistics by 352 cases. In May around 4,259 cases were reported — 699 more cases compared to 2018 May
However, despite the increase of dengue cases this year, both years displayed the usual pattern of fluctuations. Cases dropped in January and increased from May and kept rising until August.
High risk areas, Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara districts accounted for nearly 5,000 of the 8,883 cases reported this year.
However the chief medical officer of health of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) Dr Ruwan Wijayamuni, said only about 1,711 suspected dengue cases were reported from January to date within the Colombo city limits.
Two have died in January and April.
“Dengue in Colombo city is under control, yet there is an outbreak in Nugegoda, Mount Lavinia and Mulleriyawa,’’ he said.
Dr Wijeyamuni said dengue cases could increase with the monsoon showers.
For three days a month, homes have been checked and those that are not complying have been notified. Fogging is done at building sites and in areas where roads are dug up for pipe laying, he said.
The CMOH also said that the CMC has established a dengue rapid response team to monitor the hospitals and carry out fumigation as well as dengue eradication programmes in residential areas where suspected dengue patients are reported.
Dr Wijayamuni said that the response team was set up two weeks back. Team members are deployed to hospitals such as National Hospital and Ridgeway Hospital.
If a patient was reported at a hospital, the unit would be sent to the residential area where the patient came from and fumigation is done.