News
Dengue drive fails to prevent sharp rise in infection
Despite an islandwide anti-dengue drive the number of dengue cases showed a significant increase this year compared to the corresponding period last year.
Health Ministry figures show the total number of cases reported for July this year was 5,574 as against 2,924 cases last year while in August this year, 3,556 cases were reported as against 3282 cases 12 months ago.
Health ministry officials argue that though the comparative figures are high they have been able show a gradual reduction since June this year where the number of cases were 6,736 followed by 5,574 and 3,556 in the two subsequent months.
This year, so far 65 people have died of dengue while last year 62 persons died during the corresponding period.
To date, this year 29,012 cases were recorded while during the corresponding period last year there were only 23,000 cases – an increase of 6,000 cases, and health officials fear the rains expected in the latter part of the year will result in more cases.
The Heath Ministry has declared National Mosquito Control Week commencing next Wednesday (September 10).
Environment Police Director Quintus Raymond said his officers, attached to 442 police stations, are finding that most schools as well as and state and private institutions are contributing largely to the breeding of the deadly mosquito.
This water full of mosquito larvae (inset) was found in a plastic container outside a supermarket in Colombo. Pic by Indika Handuwala
“We located a massive dengue mosquito breeding site at Vilasita Niwasa, Kirulapone,” said Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ruwan Wijayamuni.
The building, currently occupied by the Police Organised Crimes Division is a condemned building. “We found millions of mosquito eggs in ground floor of this building,” Dr Wijayamuni said.
“In the last five years we had a lot of cases from this area and we have identified this building as the source.
“We issued them with a notice and I have written to the Inspector General of the Police,” he said.
“A swimming pool located in an international school on Duplication Road in Bambalapitiya was also found to be a colossal dengue breeding site,” Dr. Wijayamuni added.
Officials also found several potential dengue mosquito breeding places in the Lumbini College primary section and the Science and Arts Faculties of the Colombo University.
Health Ministry Director-General Dr Hasitha Thissera said 20 per cent of schools in the Western Province had potential mosquito breeding sites.
The Health Services Director Dr Palitha Maheepala said the dengue eradiction programmes saw more than six million houses checked, 14,094 red notices issued and 2,810 court cases filed against offenders.
A World Health Organisation (WHO) conference examining the links between health and climate change has warned of the risks of infectious diseases such as malaria and dengue, which are strongly influenced by climate.
Higher humidity and temperatures mean mosquitoes can survive longer, increasing the likelihood for transmitting diseases and being able to travel to a wider geographic range, the WHO said.
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