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Covid cases top 100,000 as dengue also strikes
View(s):As the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Sri Lanka crossed the 100,000 mark last evening with another 826 persons testing positive for the virus, health authorities reported an increase in dengue cases and warned about a further rise due to the rains.
As of 7 pm yesterday, the number of COVID-19 cases, since the detection of the first case in January last year, stood at 100,517. Four patients, including an 18-year-old girl, died of Covid yesterday. The death toll stood at 638 last night.
On Friday, the authorities issued fresh health guidelines applicable till May 31 and appealed to the people to limit non-essential travel during the long weekend.
The surge in Covid cases came as several districts reported a spike in dengue cases.
Dengue Control Unit Director Dr Arun Jayasekara said the highly populated districts of Batticaloa, Colombo, Gamapaha and Kurunegala reported the highest number of cases this year, he said.
The Batticaloa district reported 2,686 cases which was the highest number, followed by the Colombo district which reported 939 patients.
Dr. Jayasekera said he feared a further increase next month and the situation would be tough to handle because of the surge in the COVID-19 pandemic also.
According to the statistics published on the Health Ministry’ epidemiology unit website, there have been a total of 6389 dengue cases reported from January to date.
The statistics show that even though the numbers are low compared to the corresponding period of last year, the number of cases gradually increased last month and this month.
Dr Jayasekara called on the people to be more vigilant and clear mosquito breeding areas in their premises as part of the measures to prevent a further increase in the number of cases.
He said the Government had arranged cleaning and fumigation programmes at public places. Priority was being given to schools and universities.
Colombo Municipal Council’s (CMC) Public Health Department also has deployed 360 personnel and 60 teams to carry out house inspections to issue red notices and destroy mosquito breeding areas within Colombo city limits.
The city’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Ruwan Wijayamuni told the Sunday times the number of dengue cases had increased mainly due to the recent rains. He said that normally dengue cases increase in early July but this year the numbers had risen from March.
He said the highest number of cases was reported from Colombo Central and Colombo North.
He said PHIs had inspected more than 22,000 houses and issued red notices to about 440.
“We are unable to take legal action as we are overwhelmed with COVID control work. Therefore we destroy dengue breeding places at the source,” he said.
The Public Health Inspectors’ Union urged the people to seek immediate medical treatment if they developed dengue symptoms such as joint pains or fever which persisted for two to three days.
PHI Union Secretary M. Balasooriya said that as both COVID-19 and dengue were virus infections, the symptoms could be similar. Therefore patients could not neglect treatment as both illnesses could lead to death, if not treated properly.