Dengue cases rise to over 12,000

Shirley Wijesinghe

Latest Health Ministry statistics show that the number of dengue cases had risen to over 12,300 with 152 deaths.

Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry sources said the Ministry was specially concerned with the situation in 68 divisional secretariats and was continuing with its ongoing measures to eradicate dengue and other mosquito borne diseases.

According to the sources, the first consignment of BTI predator bacteria ordered from Cuba to destroy dengue larvae will reach the country this week.

Colombo Municipal Council Public Health Department Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam said that 589 dengue victims and eight deaths have been reported from the Colombo city during the last six months.

Sabaragamuwa Provincial Health Director, Dr. Kapila Kannangara said a special program has been launched to eradicate mosquito borne diseases in the province.

The program will include the involvement of schoolchildren, teachers, parents and Public Health Inspectors. As an initial step, each student has been given a card to collect daily data about mosquito breeding locations.

They would have to identify these locations with the assistance of their parents. The information collected about mosquito breeding places would be submitted directly to the Provincial Health Director.

This process will enable them to identify the respective Public Health Inspectors who are obliged to make their daily or weekly house to house visits continuously. Dr. Kannangara said that the program will be promoted throughout Kegalle district within the next two weeks.