Dengue plummets, health experts warn of rat fever surge
by Carol Aloysius

Denying rumours of a spike in dengue and rat fever as well as other
flood-related illnesses, Director, Kalubowila Hospital, Dr Asela
Gunewardene told the Sunday Observer that patients being treated for
such diseases were not victims of the recent floods and that there was
no increase in the number of patients of dengue in hospitals.
"Most patients affected with these diseases go to the IDH or
Mulleriya or a government hospital in the flood-hit area. There is no
increase in the number of dengue or Leptispirosis ( Rat Fever) patients
in our hospitals," he said.
Regarding a possibility of a surge in rat fever following the floods
and heavy rains, Health Ministry sources said that there were reports of
the disease in non-endemic areas in recent years but denied a surge in
flood-hit areas..
A circular sent by Epidemiology Chief Dr Paba Palihawardana in 2011
to Regional Directors of Health Services on control and prevention was
being adhered with district level activity coordinating committees which
included stake holders of public health and curative sectors. Adequate
stocks of Doxycicilin to be distributed to farming communities was
ensured.
Deputy Director General Public Health, Ministry of Health, Dr Sarath
Amunugama responding to a question on precautions for volunteers
offering to clean drains, schools and houses that went under water,
said, " The problem is that many of these volunteers go to flood-hit
areas on their own, unaware of health risks such as rat fever from
contaminated water." As for volunteer workers being treated for rat
fever at private hospitals he said, " No reports were received upto now.
Government hospitals at every two miles radius have trained clinicians
and doctors. Immediate assistance will be administered. Doxycycilin
tablets will also be given as a precautionary measure."
Around 1,840 cases of Leptospirosis ( Rat Fever) have been reported
following the recent floods and heavy monsoon rains currently lashing
the country. Dengue cases in the past five months have plunged
dramatically, showing a decrease from 6,674 in January to 1,222
suspected cases islandwide, senior health officials told the Sunday
Observer. Over 17,801 suspected cases of dengue were reported to the
Government Epidemiology Unit ( GEU,) for the first five months of this
year.
Approximately 51.01% of cases were reported from the Western
Province. |