Dengue cases top over 25,050 in first 10 months

by Carol Aloysius

The Health Ministry has warned that the number of dengue cases could increase again if the public becomes complacent and do not clean their premises on a daily basis. There was a drop in the number of dengue cases in September.

The number of suspected dengue cases reported to the Epidemiology Unit in the first 10 months of the year stood at 25,050, with 48.12 percent cases from the Western Province. The number of dengue cases in the Colombo district totalled 7,713 up 2,000 compared to last month, Gampaha had 2,913 compared 2,837 cases in September, Kurunegala 2,447, Ratnapura 1,542, Kandy 1,504 and Kalutara 1,410.

All school heads have been instructed to eliminate mosquito breeding sites in their school premises. Over 60 school heads were taken to court last year and fined for permitting mosquito breeding sites within the school premises.

An islandwide Anti Dengue campaign which was launched last week ends today. Health Ministry sources said that the routine cleaning programs would continue on a daily basis clearing mosquito breeding sites, dredging canals and home inspections, as dengue could raise its ugly head again with the monsoons in November.

"We expect everyone to co-operate. Dengue breeders will be warned and taken to courts", said Secretary, Public Health Inspectors Union Islandwide, A.M. Senarath.

The sources said that Leptospirosis (Rat Fever) another disease which also emerged following heavy rains and floods which also posed a high risk to mainly paddy farmers and those working in gem pits and dredging canals, due to many farmers wading in muddy fields barefoot which could contain infected rat urine which caused the disease.