Malaria declines, dengue and chickungunya cases increase

Uditha KUMARASINGHE and Irangika RANGE

Heathcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva told Parliament that of the 678 malaria cases reported during last year, 500 cases were reported among the soldiers deployed in jungle areas of Kilinochchi.

The Minister speaking during the debate on the Regulations under the Prevention of Mosquito Breeding Act in Parliament said the country has been able to eradicate Malaria thanks to successful preventive measures taken by the Health Ministry all over the Island even covering the war affected areas though Sri Lanka had experienced a slight increase of Malaria after 1968.

He said the World Health Organization had praised Sri Lanka's achievement of wiping out Malaria.

He also said that there were 3,864 dengue cases reported so far this year.

In 2004, 15,453 dengue cases were reported and 820 cases in 2005, 11,972 cases in 2006, 7,320 cases in 2007, 6,431 cases in 2008 were reported in subsequent years.

"Dengue and chickungunya are man-made disasters," he said. Mosquitoes carrying the disease move within an area of 500 metres only. "We ourselves are responsible for the spread of the disease by allowing mosquito breeding grounds," he said.

These mosquitoes breed only in clean water. Therefore, we should not allow water stagnation so that they would not increase," he said.