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Dengue on the rise
By Olindhi Jayasundere
The Colombo Municipal Council said today that during this month alone there have been 222 reported incidents of dengue and one reported death. “There are about 10 to 15 patients being admitted to a hospital each day due to the vast spread of the disease,” CMC Chief Medical Officer, Pradeep Kariyawasam said
He added that there have been 905 cases of dengue and eight deaths due to the illness reported since January this year and that the numbers are further on the rise due to the heavy rain experienced in some areas.
He said dengue mosquitoes multiply in water collected in solid waste material, heaps of leaves, building material and blocked drains and gutters. He said when water falls and gets collected in such waste material, mosquitoes multiply increasing a possible threat of the dengue disease. “In the past few weeks threat of the disease is even more,” he said.
He said that Maligawatta, Grandpass, Wanathamulla, Kotahena, Aluthkade, Narahenpita, Borella, Thimbirigasyaya, Kirulapanna, Pamankada were some of the most dengue affected areas in Colombo. “We had informed the public through loud speaker systems and other means to clear out their garbage but they have not responded therefore CMC Field Officers will be visiting these areas to control the epidemic,” he said.
He said the CMC has already begun spraying BTI in Colombo East where some 550 houses are sprayed each day. “The BTI bacteria inactivates the gut of the of mosquito larvae and therefore is very effective,” he said.
Meanwhile the Health Ministry said that if a person has the flu for more than two days they should immediately get treatment at hospital or family doctor. The Ministry also advised the public to clean up their homes and surrounding areas at least for two hours a week. The Ministry said that it would carry out an awareness program and inspection in selected areas in Colombo in August.
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