Dengue outbreak looms large

By Chanuka Mannapperuma

Health officials have warned of a dengue outbreak this month specially in Colombo following in the incessant rains and poor attention of people towards keeping their environment clean.

"Compared to the corresponding figure last year there was a 75 percent drop in dengue cases. But the situation has now changed.

Forty-six cases were reported in July while from January this year it was 168 cases", said the Colombo Municipal Council Chief Medical Officer Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam.

Dr. Kariyawasam said, the number of dengue cases has gone up dramatically islandwide and they are conducting health awareness campaigns to educate the public on the importance of keeping their surrounding environment clean.

"But people do not pay much attention," he said.

According to Dr. Kariyawasam, they did not find any chikungunya cases during the past seven months but officials fear that dengue and chikungunya might raise its head again.

He called upon the public to keep their environment clean and also prevent rain water collecting in empty containers which could lead to mosquito breeding.

He said that the public forget the importance of keeping the environment free of mosquito breeding all the time.

"They (the public) concerned about dengue when the epidemic is high and seem to forget it thereafter. People should be alert all the time."