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Dengue mosquito’s next assault looms, health officials predict more infections
View(s):Sri Lanka is facing yet another peak period attack from the deadly dengue mosquito in October and November in tandem with the expected rains. So far this year, the lives of whole families have been devastated. More than 143,00 people have been infected with dengue and 350 including children have lost their lives amid severe failure in the government response, handicapped sanitation services, and underprepared, understaffed, and overwhelmed health sector officials.
A dry period and continuing campaigns to destroy mosquito breeding sites have helped to reduce the prevalence. But the respite will be short-lived. Ahead of an expected rise in dengue infections in October and November, health officials say they are preparing. The latest update from the Epidemiology Unit show that during the third week of August, 3,380 people were infected in contrast to 9,693 dengue cases reported in the last week of July.
The number of dengue cases reported this month has slumped to 15,772 until August 24 compared with 40,461 in July. Consultant Community Physician of the National Dengue Control Unit, Dr. Preshila Samaraweera, told the Sunday Times that the number of dengue cases reported island-wide has reached 143,179 and the death toll remains at 350.
“We conducted a programme in Jaffna this week to plan for the monsoon as we expect an increase in the coming days,’’ she said.
The number of cases is under control in the Western Province. Programmes will continue in the Western Province, Kurunegala, Puttalam and Jaffna, Dr. Samaraweera said.
September 20-26th has been designated as dengue control week. Schools will be cleaning up September 1-3 before they reopen.
A senior official in the epidemiology unit of the Kalutara regional director of health services, told the Sunday Times that 630 infections were reported in August and there has been 70% reduction in the number of cases.
“The recent dry weather is a reason for the decline in the number of dengue patients along with the interventions,’’ he said.
But he predicts cases could rise by 20% when the rains begin. “We are ready for an outbreak. We have provided the major hospitals with sufficient resources, especially the Panadura Hospital has activated emergency protocols. Public health interventions like clean up campaigns are continuing,’’ he said.
The spokesman of the Sabaragamuwa regional director of health services, said that in the Ratnapura District, there are more than 8,000 dengue cases with 400 reported just this month. He also noted a gradual decline in cases. “November is generally the peak period. We have decided to continue the clean up programmes,’’ he said.
Dr. Champa Aluthweera, the Kurunegala regional director of health services, said cases had been gradually declining in the MOH areas. But she added that there is a slight increase in the peripheries. Conducting preventive programmes in these areas has been difficult because of a lack of vehicles. Overall, there has been a decline in cases. She said cases are expected to rise in the peak period.
“We are strengthening the curative sector, which is the hospitals, by increasing the capacity of the hospitals and improving the high dependency units. We are also strengthening the preventive sector where clean up activities are done,’’ she explained. Fogging equipment has been purchased.
The Kandy regional director of health services, Dr. Sarath Weerabandara, noted that there had not been a vast reduction in cases. Cases have dropped overall. In Kandy, dengue cases have exceeded 8,000. About 1,300 cases were reported this month in just two weeks. Dr. Weerbandara expects more cases following the rains.