Health Ministry issues warning on dengue ; predicts rise in patients

The Health Ministry has issued a warning predicting a rise in dengue patients due to the intermittent rains experienced these days.

“Dengue mosquitoes may start spreading due to the huge number of breeding grounds that are formed due to the rains” the Ministry said.

Accordingly, a special dengue prevention programme will be organised in collaboration with the Presidential Task Force and the Divisional Health Offices tomorrow (Feb 14) and on Friday in the Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara and Jaffna districts.

The programme would involve the inspection of potential breeding sites and the implementation of various mechanisms to destroy such breeding grounds.

The Health Ministry said that 650 teams comprising tri-forces personnel, police officers and Public Health Field Officers would be deployed to carry out dengue prevention mechanisms.

Accordingly, Public Health Officers would be designated to destroy existing dengue breeding grounds or prevent the formation of such sites.

The necessary technical assistance to carry out these mechanisms could be obtained from the Public Health Inspectors or Health Officers in the areas in which the programmes are being carried out.

The Ministry also called on the general public to clean their surroundings for at least 30 minutes per week to prevent the spread of dengue.