Dengue flourishing in crammed govt flats
The government is to take action over illegal construction in blocks of government flats with authorities saying mosquitoes are teeming with the resulting lack of space, poor waste management and congestion.
“Illegal construction in government flats in the Colombo District has been a menace with most of the dengue cases being reported from these government flats,” Urban Development Authority General Manager Nihal Fernando said. “Therefore, with the help of the Ministry of Housing, we will remove them,” he said.
Health officials warn the rise in dengue patients since January could continue for months.
During the last seven months of the year 22,483 suspected dengue cases have been reported to the Epidemiology Unit from all over the island with nearly 47.34 per cent of cases reported from the Western province.
The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC)’s Health Department has decided to take strict action against schools that have mosquito breeding spots on grounds that put students’ lives at risk.
“There have been many cases and deaths due to negligence on the part of school authorities. Principals should not be concerned only about the finances and education but also the health of the children,” the CMC’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Ruwan Wijeyamuni said.
“Fumigating and fogging are temporary solutions. Schools should get labourers to clean gutters and tree holes that are main breeding spots in schools,” he said.
He said schools should build rapport with the surrounding neighbourhood to ensure mosquito breeding sites are cleaned up in the locality.
Central Epidemiological Unit Director Dr. Paba Palihawadana said Colombo has the highest dengue population with major breeding spots being Maligawatta West, Cinnamon Gardens, Kirulapone, Wellampitiya, Modera, and Mattakkuliya.
“This is the dry, arid season when mosquitoes breed inside houses in places such as refrigerator trays, vases and other water collecting spots. It is important to clean all these places,” Dr. Palihawadana said.
“Most people are not interested in their surroundings. They only think of whitewashing their houses but they don’t remember that gutters, water tanks and water collecting places should also be cleaned regu- larly,” she said.
National Coordinator for the Dengue Control Programme, Dr. Hasitha Tissera agrees with those sentiments.
“Colombo district is not only the most vulnerable when it comes to dengue cases, it is also struggling with a shortage of officers and people show little enthusiasm about cleaning their immediate environment,” he said.
“In some instances the owners of houses and properties are overseas with no one to supervise maintenance. On several occasions police had to put up “Land/house for sale” signs to get the owner to contact the police,” Dr. Tissera said.
About 36,000 persons were warned to clear their environment during the dengue week which fell from June 22 to 26. Out of the 67,055 vacant plots, residences, private and State institutions and schools inspected during the first two days of the week, 16,565 areas were identified as high-risk places.
According to the Epidemiology Unit Colombo tops the dengue list with 7,240 positive cases and Gampaha and Kandy hold the second and third place with 2,091 and 1,527 respectively.
Recent research by the World Health Organisation showed that mosquitoes carrying dengue not only infect humans with the virus but lay eggs where the larvae carry the virus from birth.