Increase in dengue looms large in the city

by Ranil Wijayapala

The number of dengue cases in the Colombo city could increase in the coming weeks as 157 dengue cases have been reported in May alone, the Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam told the Sunday Observer. He said there had been a sudden increase in the number of dengue cases in the Colombo city in April with over 200 cases reported and this trend is likely to continue this month too. Three dengue deaths including a five-year-old and 1,177 cases have been reported this year in the Colombo city.

Dr. Kariyawasam said that there was a 20 percent increase in the number of dengue cases in the city compared to the corresponding period last year and the Borella area was more vulnerable to the disease.

Due to lack of staff in the CMC to conduct inspections in the city, he had proposed to the Mayor of Colombo A.J. Muzzamil to recruit at least 60 Advanced Level qualified youth to the CMC to conduct inspections, he said.

“The recruitment of young people for this task will infuse more enthusiasm to the inspection process rather than deploying the usual staff”, he said.

Dr. Kariyawasam said some of his staffers also contracted dengue and two midwives are now receiving treatment at the Intensive Care Unit of the Colombo General Hospital.

“There is a need to intensify cleaning and inspection in the city as done last year with the support of the Security Forces”, he said.