Dengue epidemic imminent in Dehiwela-Ratmalana

by Carol Aloysius

Health officials of the Dehiwela-Ratmalana Divisional Secretariat have cautioned residents of an imminent dengue epidemic, unless mosquito-breeding sites in their premises are eliminated immediately.

"In the past two weeks, 138 suspected dengue cases have been reported to us.

The victims are mostly children and working people", Dehiwela MOH, Dr. Indika Ellawela told the Sunday Observer. "The highest number of cases is from Nedimala, Dehiwela, Mt. Lavinia and Kalubowila."

He said that dengue patients who were admitted to the Kalubowila hospital were an added threat as the same mosquito which bites them could infect residents living nearby.

"As these high risk places are very congested, many people live in unsanitary conditions.

Dehiwela West is also an industrial area with many construction sites which are breeding grounds for the dengue carrying vector", he said.

The Public Health Inspector and supervisor of the area, Lalith Perera told the Sunday Observer that the commonest breeding grounds in construction sites were toilets which were on the ground floor, and get filled with rain water, attracting mosquitoes.

Workers in these sites also compounded matters by not clearing discarded building material. Lunch sheets and empty beer cans in most construction sites we visited also had mosquito larvae," he said.

School premises are also common breeding sites for mosquitoes due to water containers filled with rain water, and plastic yoghurt cups and lunch sheets on school grounds.

"We're specially concerned as children are the biggest victims", Dr Ellawela said. He said that to check the further spread of the disease, a special cleaning program was held on Friday in all these high risk areas. "We are now planning to hold a mega program involving stakeholders, the three Armed Forces and residents and local government members. We have asked residents to co-operate with us in our efforts. We also hope to conduct more awareness programs in the near future. Only elimination of breeding sites can minimise mosquitoes," he said.