War on dengue: Dengue Control Week from Monday

Chamikara WEERASINGHE

Health Minister Maithreepala Sirisena has decided to introduce intensive source reduction exercises and clean up campaigns to reduce the mosquito population as the key strategy to combat dengue ahead of the peak dengue transmission seasons from next month, ministry sources said yesterday.

The ministry’s officials on the National Dengue Control Programme said they have communicated a circular in this regard to all Medical Officers of Health (MOHs) throughout the island instructed by Minister Sirisena.

The circular requires the MOHs in dengue afflicted districts to hold a Dengue Control Week from Monday, during which MOHs are expected to inspect mosquito breeding places at homes and public places.

The MOHs together with Public Health Inspectors, Health Ministry entomologists, police and Security Forces personnel are expected to visit these places to initiate clean up activities for dengue source reduction, they said.

Steps will be taken to issue warnings against man-made dengue breeding places in gardens or buildings during inspections. Legal action will be taken against house owners if they did not take action to remove them within a week after the warning being issued.

They will go as teams to inspect mosquito breeding places in each MOH areas.

Minister Sirisena is also scheduled to participate in some dengue source reduction exercises on May 14, ministry sources said.

A ministry official said over 10,000 cases of dengue outbreaks including 46 deaths have been reported so far this year.

The mosquito population has increased in Narahenpita. The mosquito density is measured to have been between 12 to 14 in Narahenpita. Anything above five on vector index or mosquito population size is considered high, the sources said.

Colombo is said to be on the top of the high risk districts for contracting dengue. Other dengue high risk districts are Colombo, Matara, Kalutara, Gampaha, Galle Kegalle, Kurunagala, Puttalam and Batticaloa.