Dengue epidemic now under control - Health Minister
by Ananda KANNANGARA
The one-week long islandwide Dengue Eradication Program conducted by
the Health Ministry last week in collaboration with Environment,
Education and Provincial Council Ministries had borne results, showing a
significant reduction of the dengue epidemic, Health Minister Nimal
Siripala de Silva said.
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Mini storm
uproots trees
The Colombo road network
went haywire last evening for a short while when heavy
thundershowers uprooted several trees in the heart of the
city.
The areas along Reid Avenue,
Kew Road, Bullers Road, Malalasekera Mawatha, Kirula Road
and Horton roundabout were temporarily affected.
The Fire Service Department
of Colombo Municipal Council took steps to remove the tree
trunks and clear the roads in double quick time, said B. A.
R. Ariyaratna of Fire Service Department.
Fire Service chief,
Jayamapathi Nanayakkara, on the instructions of the City
Commissioner Badrani Jayawardena took charge of the
operation |
According to the latest statistics of the Epidemiology Unit of the
Health Ministry, around 28,000 dengue patients have been reported and
around 270 persons have succumbed to the disease during the past ten
months.
“Local Government institutions, such as Divisional Secretariats,
Provincial Councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas also helped the Government’s
endeavour of destroying mosquito breeding grounds,” the Minister said.
Bandaragama, Wadduwa, Horana and Bulathsinhala in the Kalutara
District had actively participated in mosquito elimination programs.
Health Ministry statistics have also revealed that the highest
numbers of 3,500, 3,700 and 3,400 dengue-infected persons reported
during this period were from Kandy, Kegalle and Colombo districts
respectively.
“However, the dengue epidemic that hit the country during the first
part of this year is now under control,” the Minister said.
Minister de Silva also reiterated that no vaccine or treatment has so
far been manufactured to combat this disease and it is the duty of the
public to engage in dengue eradication activities from time to time.
Meanwhile, Health Ministry Senior Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Peiris
said people could use either mosquito repellents containing DEET or
picaridin (KBR3020), which are in liquid and cream form, to repel
mosquitoes.
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