News

Uncleared garbage heightens dengue risk

By Nadia Fazlulhaq

The continuing garbage problem in Colombo is contributing to the spread of dengue fever in and around the city, according to medical sources.

The Colombo Municipality’s chief medical officer Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam made this observation when noting that Colombo district has recorded the highest number of dengue cases, 745, so far this year, while the city itself has recorded 257 cases.

Island-wide, there were 55 dengue-related deaths in the first four months of the year, as against 27 deaths in the whole of 2008, according to Dr. Hasitha Tissera, consultant epidemiologist for the Ministry of Health.

The districts considered the most vulnerable to dengue attacks are Kandy, Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kurunegala, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Hambantota, Matara, Kegalle and Matara.

Kegalle district reported the highest number of dengue-related deaths, 11. There were eight fatalities in Colombo, seven in Kandy, six in Hambantota, and six in Gampaha.

Schools and workplaces should ensure that their environments were not conducive to the breeding of mosquitoes, Dr. Tissera added.

Dr. S. Sinnathambi, regional epidemiologist for the North and East, told The Sunday Times that a number of dengue cases were reported from Kalavanchikudy and Batticaloa. Only a few cases of dengue have been reported from camps for internally displaced persons, but Dr. Sinnathambi stressed the need for extra care and vigilance in the camps.

 
Top to the page  |  E-mail  |  views[1]
 
Other News Articles
UN cash for the displaced people
Heavy fighting as LTTE area shrinks
Miliband, Kouchner to brief SC tomorrow
Manmohan in Chennai: “Our hands are tied”
Uncleared garbage heightens dengue risk
Not detective fiction, but the horrifying fact
Call to protect media freedom, journalists’ rights
Judge as Tax Chief: Cabinet suspends move
Five drown in Vesak tragedy
Trinity, temple to meet over Asgiriya
AA insists no wheeler- dealing in land purchase
Corruption charges at Devi Balika: Principal, VP, 2 teachers suspended
Channel 4 journalists held, visas cancelled
President goes to Jordan, Ranil to EU, UK and Norway
STF patrols tense Maligawatte area
Cinema Dansala at BMICH
Sajin gets President to overrule objections to bridge by UC
The battle for bund leads to desert war
“After all, he is still our President”
Living an uphill task as prices take a hike
Conflict resolution: How Lord Buddha’s way offers an answer
Asia- more economic troubles ahead

 

 
Reproduction of articles permitted when used without any alterations to contents and a link to the source page.
© Copyright 2008 | Wijeya Newspapers Ltd.Colombo. Sri Lanka. All Rights Reserved.| Site best viewed in IE ver 6.0 @ 1024 x 768 resolution