GMOA warns health authorities

Risk of increasing dengue cases in January, February

The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) yesterday urged the health authorities to come up with a systematic mechanism to face an expected dengue epidemic season in January and February.

In a statement, the association said an effective coordination among the authorities and officials was key to create such a mechanism.

A dengue epidemic can be predicted especially in the Western Province and the districts of Kandy, Jaffna, Batticaloa and Kurunegala

“According to reports receiving from hospitals for the previous week, there is a risk of increasing dengue cases. The risk has heightened with increasing rains. The number of breeding places and larvae are on the rise. Therefore, a dengue epidemic can be predicted especially in the Western Province and the districts of Kandy, Jaffna, Batticaloa and Kurunegala,” it said.

The GMOA said the number of dengue cases reported this year had been reduced in comparison with the previous year. “If the enthusiasm towards eradicating dengue also reduced, the results would be severe in the coming months,” it said.

It said more than 180,000 cases of dengue was reported in 2017 while only 43,536 of dengue cases reported until November this year.