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Dengue patients could balloon well beyond 19,000
View(s):Health officials have warned of a possible increase in the number of dengue patients in June and July in the wake of the southwestern monsoon.
According to the National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU) the number of patients usually increases in those two rainy months.
In 2019, a total 14,916 patients were reported during the two months, while the year before, there were 11,968 patients. However, the highest number of patients was reported in 2017, at 66,440 patients in June and July.
The director of the NDCU, Dr. Aruna Jayasekara, told the Sunday Times that during the past few months not many dengue cases had been reported because movement was restricted and people were not exposed to multiple mosquito breeding sites.
But he believes that dengue infections could rise along with the relaxing of the curfew in certain parts of the island.
“We have instructed the Medical Health Officers (MOHs) about dengue response activities, we have also taken steps to inform schools via the Ministry of Education to maintain a clean environment, so when students get back to their normal routine, dengue will not intervene in their daily activities,” he said.
During the past months, a large number of health officials was involved in coronavirus risk management.
Dr. Jayasekara added that since the spread of the virus has been contained in certain districts, health officials could be asked to focus on dengue.
Meanwhile, the NDCU has also taken steps to provide other hospitals with training and equipment to treat dengue patients as most major hospitals that treated dengue cases are caring for coronavirus patients.
According to Dr. Jayasekara the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) was the main health care facility for dengue patients. But now, other nearby hospitals including the Thalangama hospital and the Wethara hospitals will treat dengue patients.
Moreover, Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kandy, Ratnapura, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Galle, and Matara districts have been identified as possible high risk areas by the NDCU.
According to the Epidemiology Unit, the total number of dengue cases reported as of 15 May, was 19,244.
Colombo regional director of health services, reported 2,728 patients, while Trincomalee reported 2,205. The Batticaloa regional director of health services reported 2,083 patients.
Many districts that had halted dengue response activities have resumed work this week following the relaxation of curfews in certain areas and regional directors have urged people to destroy potential mosquito breeding places.
“Every year there are dengue clean-up programs at district, and sometimes at the national level. But, now we are unable to do so due to the pandemic,” Kandy regional director of health services Dr. Nidhershini Periyasamy said.
Despite public campaigns for more than a decade, breeding sites still exist in some homes, she said.
“People have been at home for over a month and they cannot make excuses for not having the time to clear out these breeding places in their own homes,’’ she said.
Gampaha regional director of health services Dr. Chandrani Senaratne said that
dengue activities continued in most parts of the Gampaha district until the coronavirus pandemic began.
“However, response activities have resumed, we have identified certain high risk MOH areas and we have sent health officials to inspect potential breeding places,” she said.
Dr. Senaratne emphasised that community support is of utmost importance, since health officials are unable to operate like before.
Meanwhile, Attanagalla, Biyagama, Kelaniya and Negombo have been identified as possible high risk MOH areas.
Dr. U.I. Ratnayake, the regional director of health services for Kalutara, said that the dengue mechanism which was paralysed has now been reactivated and MOHs have been asked to carry out dengue eradication work.
“We are unable to form rural committees and conduct large scale cleaning campaigns like in the previous years. It is important that the public take up individual responsibility in cleaning up their homes,” he said.
The regional director of health services of Ratnapura, Dr. Sujeewa Panditharatne, told the Sunday Times, that since the virus is not spreading in the district, health officials have shifted their focus to dengue.
“The main concern these days is potential [mosquito] breeding grounds in rubber plantations, because the coconut shells used by rubber tappers tend to collect water during the monsoon,” he explained.
According to Dr. Panditharatne, routine activities have begun in the Ratnapura district. There will be home inspections, small scale cleanups, and fogging as well if needed.