News
Alert raised amid 26 dengue deaths and jump in infections
Fogging at Summit Flats in Colombo. Pic by Indika handuwala
Close to 5,000 people have been infected with dengue in the first half of December.
Health authorities are asking people and institutions to keep their surroundings free of mosquito breeding sites to prevent an outbreak in the coming weeks.
Those with a high fever are being advised to get medical help immediately and get a complete blood count to check for unusual drops in cell counts as well as their red and white blood cell counts.
This year, 26 people have died from the mosquito-borne disease and 31,198 have become infected.
Usually the number of infections and deaths increase following the monsoon rains.
“If you notice an increase in mosquitoes in your surroundings, you are at a risk. Applying mosquito repellent and minimising day-time mosquito bites and nets are temporary solutions. Mosquito breeding sites should be removed,’’ said Dr. Shilanthi Seneviratne, consultant community physician of the Health Ministry’s Dengue Control Unit.
Mosquito breeding sites are plentiful in the surroundings, she said, referring to debris, rubbish, items that collect water, ornaments and ponds, discarded used tyres, pet feeding bowls, concrete slabs and gutters, air-conditioners, refrigerators, and wells.
“Neglected construction sites are a growing concern. If not supervised, or larvicide is not sprayed in places where rainwater collects, one construction site can affect a whole neighbourhood. We have instructed local authorities to continue monitoring the condition of construction sites,” she said.
Apart from the Colombo Municipality Council area, Ratmalana, Battaramulla, Maharagama, Kahathuduwa, Wethara, Boralesgamuwa, Pitakotte, Nawala, Homagama, Padukka, Moratuwa, Kaduwela, Gothatuwa, Dehiwala, Nugegoda, Kolonnawa and Piliyandala in the Colombo district have recorded an increase in dengue patients.
There is a growing number of patients from the Gampaha district. Infections have been reported from Seeduwa, Wattala, Meerigama, Ragama, Minuwangoda, Negombo MC, Mahara, Ja-ela, Gampaha, Biyagama, Attanagalle, Veyangoda, Katana, and Kelaniya. 
Muttur in Trincomalee, Wannappuwa in the Puttalam district, Matara, Galle and Kurunegala Municipal Council areas, Yatinuwara and Meda Dumbara/Meda Mahanuwara in the Kandy district, Beruwala, Panadura, Wadduwa, Horana and Kalutara in the Kalutara district are also recording more dengue infections.
“Many young people fear going to hospital due to COVID-19. While the majority of COVID-19 fatalities are among the elderly, most dengue deaths and patients are in the school-going age and the working population. But, it is important to get a full blood count on the first day of having a fever. Seek medical advice from a qualified physician without delay,” Dr. Seneviratne advised.
This week, the Cabinet agreed to proposals by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to nominate one officer in each establishment to permanently continue dengue prevention.
Among the proposals are to entrust the responsibility for the coordination of provincial, district, divisional and grassroots level dengue prevention to governors of each province and update the prevailing laws on prevention.
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