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April 23 to 28:
Dengue Control Week
Nadira Gunatilleke
COLOMBO: The National Dengue control week organised by the
Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry in collaboration with the National
Dengue Control Unit and Tropical and Environment Diseases and Health
Associates under the theme `Dengue is preventable’ will be held from
April 23 to 28.
The Dengue control week takes place in April and September annually,
sources said. The ministry seeks public assistance to control dengue in
the country. High risk areas are Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kandy,
Kurunegala, Puttalam, Matara, Ratnapura and Kegalle districts.
About 50 per cent of dengue patients are reported from the Western
Province and the main reason for the increase in mosquito breeding in
this province is tyres and plastic containers, sources said.
“Dengue is completely preventable. There is no vaccine or specific
treatment for dengue. The best solution is controlling mosquitos and
reducing mosquito density. So far there is no significant number of
dengue patients reported from Sri Lanka but the high risk time period is
ahead when the monsoon season begins, they said.
The country sees an outbreak in dengue during June and July and
November and December. There are about 140 mosquito varieties in Sri
Lanka, the sources said.
Controlling dengue keep homes and home gardens free of tyres, plastic
cans, bottles, tins and plants that harbour water inside them. All
surfaces of containers, tanks, bird baths etc should be scrubbed and
cleaned once a week. Containers should be kept in secure places. |
