Organisation of Professional Associations of Sri Lanka (OPA) setting an example for other similar organisations and Chambers hosted a timely seminar on ‘New Trends in Dengue Prevention and Treatment’ recently.
The event, which was organised by the Health and Nutrition Committee of the OPA, featured Dr. Sudath Samaraweera, Director, Dengue Control Programme and Consultant Community Physician, Dr. Jayantha Weeraman, Consultant Pediatrician and Dr. Sanath Hettige, Consultant in Family Medicine and Chairman, Health and Nutrition Committee of the OPA, as guest speakers.
The health authorities are trialing innovative methods of dengue control in a bid to stop the spread of the disease, such as infecting mosquitoes with the Wolbachia bacteria, sterilizing male mosquitoes and using spatial repellents.
In his speech, Dr. Samaraweera explained that mosquitoes were being artificially infected with the Wolbachia bacteria as this prevented the transmission of the dengue virus. The authorities were focusing on these new techniques in a bid to stop the spread of dengue, which is showing signs of resurgence in Sri Lanka, with over 19,000 people being infected this year.
This is in the backdrop of traditional methods such as ‘fogging’ having limited usage while being damaging to the environment.
Most people who are infected with dengue show no symptoms, but some develop dengue fever or dengue hemorrhagic fever, Dr. Weeraman said. Dr. Sanath Hettige highlighted the importance of reducing mosquito density in the house by using methods such as covering the louver of windows with mosquito protective mesh. In addition, he urged people to destroy breeding sites, wear protective clothing and use mosquito repellent vaporizers in enclosed spaces.
