News
250 to 350 new dengue cases reported daily, health officials concerned over upsurge
View(s):By Nathara Abeywickrema
The National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU) has warned of an upsurge in dengue cases across the island with 250 to 350 new cases being reported daily.
In May alone the number had risen to 6000, with concerns raised about the heightening spread of the disease.
NDCU’s Consultant Community Physician Dr. Nimalka Pannila Hetti said 39,795 dengue cases and 25 deaths have been reported for this year.
Fighting dengue with drones. Pic by Akila Jayawardana
With 19,797 cases reported the Western Province has accounted for almost half of all cases in the island.
“The highest number of dengue cases (8,870) is from the Gampaha district in the Western Province. Colombo district has reported 8,439 cases while 2,488 cases have been reported from the Kalutara district,” Dr. Pannila Hetti said.
The Eastern Province follows with 4,488 cases.
“Trincomalee district has reported 1,578 dengue cases, while 1,636 have been reported from the Batticaloa district and 2,569 from the Puttalam district,” she said.
A significant number of dengue patients have been reported from Kandy, Ratnapura and Galle districts.
Meanwhile, of the 355 medical officer divisions in the country 60 have been identified as high-risk divisions with14 dengue high-risk medical officer divisions being from the Colombo district alone.
“Special dengue prevention programmes are in progress especially in areas identified as dengue cluster areas,” Public Health Inspectors’ Union secretary S. I. Bopitiyage said.
He said the public should play their role in preventing the spread of dengue by keeping surrounding areas clean and devoid of stagnant water.
He says dengue vector control programmes are showing less efficiency due to lack of community engagement.
An entomological survey has revealed that there has been a large growth in the number of mosquito larvae in the Colombo district in comparison to previous years. Owing to this, a rapid rise in the number of dengue cases is anticipated in June and July.
Stagnant water found at construction sites, residences and schools is the main cause for mosquito breeding cites in several areas of the city, he said.
To curb the issue the Western Provincial Council together with the Air Force are turning to drones to spray eco-friendly anti-larval agents on high-rise buildings in areas Colombo consided high risk for dengue Colombo where there is a high risk of dengue mosquito breeding that the Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) cannot make their way in.
This initiative aims at curbing the prevalence of dengue and mitigating its spread.
The Ministry of Health along with the Presidential Dengue Task Force have designated every Friday as a cleaning day to promote clean surroundings and eliminate mosquito breeding grounds.
Besides, it has been noted that pregnant women are highly vulnerable to the disease and Health authorities alarm the need to exercise caution in taking charge of dengue. Authorities advise them to use mosquito repellents and wipe out mosquito breeding sites in their dwellings to lessen the risk of contracting dengue.
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