Chikungunya affects over 2,000 Ratnapura families

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

Over 2,000 families in three areas in the Ratnapura district have been affected by Chikungunya while 500 patients with fever sought treatment at the Eheliyagoda hospital last Thursday, Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry spokesman said.

The Ministry also warned of possible outbreaks of diseases like dengue, malaria and filaria following the rains the country is experiencing.

He said the Ministry has made arrangements to control the outbreak under the direction of Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva.

“The Ministry alone cannot control any outbreak without public cooperation. Sixty eight blood samples out of 75 collected from the patients in Eheliyagoda, Kiriella and Kuruwita tested positive for Chikungunya,” the spokesman said.

The Ministry has sent drugs, vehicles and doctors to Eheliyagoda hospital. Doctors from the Epidemiology Unit, Colombo, Medical Research Institute, Colombo and Malaria Control Programme are included in the team now in the affected areas.

According to the spokesman, the Ministry has already taken steps to control the very high mosquito density in the affected area and commenced fogging yesterday. Apart from fogging, the Ministry launched an awareness campaign covering all homes through PHIs on the importance of destroying mosquito breeding places.

Ratnapura district is severely affected by diseases spread by mosquitos as it has a large number of abandoned gem mines while the number of mines used to dig soil to produce bricks are also significantly high.