35 pc rise in dengue patients this year

Nadira Gunatilleke

COLOMBO: A total of 4,826 dengue patients have been reported from Sri Lanka so far while the number of deaths reported is 19. This is a 35 per cent increase compared with last year’s statistics, where only 3,194 dengue patients were reported by August, Acting Secretary, Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry, Dr. Nihal Jayatilleke said.

Addressing a special press briefing in Colombo yesterday, Dr. Jayatilleke said 24 deaths were reported in 2007 due to dengue. Forty three MOH areas have been identified as high risk areas. They are Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kandy, Ratnapura, Kurunegala and several other districts. About 90 per cent of dengue patients are reported from these high risk areas, he said.

Deputy Director General Public Health Services, Dr. P. G. Maheepala said the highest number of dengue patients reported from Sri Lanka was in 2004.

A total of 15,463 dengue patients were reported in 2004 while the number of deaths were 88. Year 2006 recorded the second highest number of dengue patients, 11,980 and the number of deaths were 64, he said.

According to Dr.Hasitha Tissera more high risk areas for the next seven months have been identified. They are Colombo, Kaduwela, Maharagama, Dehiwala, Kolonnawa, Boralesgamuwa, Nugegoda, Horana, Panadura, Biyagama, Wattala, Mahara, Gampaha, Matara MC, Hambantota, Katuwana, Kegalle, Mawanella, Yatiyantota, Kurunegala, Polgahawela, Dankotuwa, Chilaw, Mundel, Puttalam, NEP town, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Eravur, JMC, Kopay and Tellippilai.

Dr. Tissera said a person with dengue can die within 12 to 24 hours without proper medical care.

Headache, pain under the eyes, muscle and joint pains, loss of appetite and vomiting, blood patches under the skin are the symptoms of the dengue fever. There are four types of dengue virus and a person can be infected four times. Children are more prone to the disease than adults. The virus enters into the human body only through mosquitoes, he said.

“Bed rest is a must for dengue patients and they should take more fluids. Water should be applied to the body to control body temperature. Paracetamol should be taken every six hours. If there are symptoms of haemorrhage, the patient should be admitted to hospital. Aspirin should not be given to dengue patients,” Dr. Tissera said.

The dengue mosquito bites only during the day. They are small black mosquitoes and have black and white strips around its shoulders and legs.