Dengue danger on the rise
The dengue situation is “not good”, said many health officials, worried as the number of people affected by this viral disease spread by a tiny mosquito, increased in leaps and bounds.
“We have recorded nearly 31,000 patients since January this year of which 49% (nearly half) are in the Western Province comprising the Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara districts,” said Consultant Community Physician Dr.
Nimalka Pannila
Hetti of the National Dengue Control Unit, stressing that 25% of these cases are reported from among children in the agegroup 4-19 years.The
Sunday Times on April 30 exclusively reported the likely out-ofpattern spread of dengue as well as data of a country-wide survey in an article headlined: First-ever dengue ‘census’ in SL yields valuable data.
Dr. Pannila Hetti urged everyone to check out all breeding spots and clear them, while explaining that people who needed to be vigilant most were those at construction sites, government institutions, places of religious worship and schools.
As unattended concrete slabs are danger zones with stagnant water, the Dengue Control Unit has requested that larvicide be applied to prevent mosquito breeding. This is because three stages (egg, larva and pupa) of the four-stage lifecycle of the mosquito is in water.
It has also carried out awareness programmes among construction workers and requested them to spend at least halfan-hour per week as the mosquitoe’s lifecycle is one week, to search for water collection places and clear them up.
“Even inside and outside our homes and our neighbourhoods, look closely to identify breeding spots and destroy them,” she said.
A ‘Mosquito Prevention Week’ had been declared from April 26 to May 2 in the Western Province, with the support of the Governor, the Chief Secretary, the Provincial Director of Health Services and the Dengue Control Unit.
“We went to many construction sites and offices during working days and homes during the weekend,” said Dr. Pannila Hetti.
The action needed in the light of showers which are harbingers of the spread of dengue, according to Dr. Pannila Hetti is: Mosquito source reduction through the destruction of breeding sites and larvae Indoor fogging as the World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that outdoor fogging is not very effective Protecting oneself from mosquito bites by wearing long sleeved clothing and keeping the exposure areas for bites minimal and also applying solutions like citronella oil and other health-approved solutions to prevent bites
If a person comes down with fever, suspect that it could be dengue and seek medical advice. Don’t self-medicate or resort to so-called instant cures being touted on social media
She said that everyone should get into action now, otherwise the spread of dengue would worsen as the weeks go by because for the mosquito to breed it will take one week; for the virus to amplify within the mosquito will take another week; and for the mosquito to inject the virus to a human and for the infected person to show symptoms such as fever may take another week.
“Act now to prevent a dengue disaster in about a month,” added Dr. Pannila Hetti.