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Rains bring relief and dengue
The torrential rains that fell over most of Sri Lanka during the past weeks have given rise to a few reported cases of dengue from some parts of the country.

While incidents of dengue have shown a slight increase in Matara and Matale, other districts too are bound to report more such cases with the rains continuing and stagnant water in carelessly strewn vessels, tyres, etc.

Gampaha and Colombo usually report many cases of dengue.

Statistics show a total of 1869 suspected cases reported from Colombo between January and November this year, with Gampaha reporting 1494, Matara 540 and 77 suspected cases from Matale during the same period.

Epidemiological Unit said preventive measures have been adopted in areas where cases have been reported.

The public are advised to look out for symptoms and seek early treatment to prevent any complications. Common symptoms for Dengue are high fever, headache, rash on the face, trunk and extremities, muscle and joint pains, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting.

The symptoms subside in about three or four days and the patient recovers.

Sometimes patients end up with Dengue Haemo-rrhagic Fever (DHF).

Symptoms for DHF are similar to dengue fever with haemorrhagic manifestations, bleeding from nose, gums, brown or black coloured vomit or faeces, severe and continuous stomach pain.

If these symptoms appear patients are told to obtain treatment immediately from a hospital to prevent any serious complications.

Patients suffering from dengue should be alert to a sudden drop in temperature and should refrain from taking Aspirin.

The Dengue mosquito breeds in clean, stagnant water. Therefore, mosquito breeding places in and around the house where water can collect must be removed. Water can get stagnated in tree trunks, flower pots, ponds, empty cans, tyres, gutters and empty vessels.

CID to question former Air Force Commander
The Criminal Investigation Department is to question a former Air Force Commander with regard to alleged irregularities in the purchase of helicopters, aircraft and military hardware during the period 1997/98.

Former Air Force Commander Oliver Ranasinghe who retired recently has been requested to appear before the CID early next week for questioning regarding purchases made during his tenure as Commander.

The CID commenced its investigations after a Committee appointed by Defence Minister Tilak Marapana reported of certain irregularities in arms purchases during 1997/98.

The Committee was mandated to look into more than 400 deals with regard to the purchases for the armed forces. Investigations have also revealed that though transactions were recorded as government to government they had in fact taken place via an intermediary and that the alleged frauds amounted to nearly Rs. 15 billion.

A CID official said that their investigations were based on whether the items had really been purchased, as to who submitted the quotations, whether the goods were tested for quality and fitness and whether the items were purchased from the suppliers who quoted the best price. "We have to also investigate the intermediary involved and the condition of the aircraft at that time of purchase", the official said.

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