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| Tuesday, 7 October 2003 |
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by Bharatha Malawaraarachchi The Dengue epidemic has surfaced again with nearly 64 suspected cases reported from the Kandy area during the last few weeks. Health sources said out of the total suspected cases, two had succumbed to dengue from the Yatinuwara and Gangawata-Korale. However, the Epidemiological Unit of the Health Ministry maintained that preventive measures have now been taken and the situation is now under control. "We are closely monitoring the situation and action has been taken accordingly," a spokesman of the Epidemiological unit told the Daily News yesterday. Health sources said dengue has raised its head in the Kandy Municipality, Yatinuwara and Gangawata Korale areas. An epidemiologist said although the situation has now been brought under control in the Kandy area, the number of cases might increase if the rains continue. There is an increase of dengue cases in July and September every year but the spread of dengue had declined by 30 per cent during the last year. The spokesman stressed the need for the public to keep their environment clean and destroy mosquito breeding places. "The active participation of the public is necessary to keep this disease under control. They should keep houses, offices and schools clean." The highest number of Dengue cases has been reported from the Western province with the Colombo district hitting top of the list. The Gampaha district ranks second with most of the cases reported from Katana, Negombo, Wattala, Mahara and Gampaha town. Matara district has also recorded a considerable number of cases. According to health authorities, the Dengue epidemic has been under control during the last few months. Meanwhile, the Colombo Municipal Council Medical Unit has launched a house to house inspection campaign. This action programme seeks to clean up the City and destroy mosquito breeding places. Already, 512 city households have been issued notices by Municipal Health authorities for ignoring health standards. These households are required to clean up within one week, failing which they will be prosecuted. "If the intermittent rains continues further, the situation would lead to an outbreak of dengue in the Municipal area and cases will increase," a Municipal official added. |
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