Ecological approach to control dengue - Experts at dengue confab

Shirley Wijesinghe

The fatality rate of dengue and chikungunya in Sri Lanka, Thailand and Indonesia was increasing while it was declining in other countries. Therefore an ecological approach should be made to control dengue fever by resorting to proper environment standards through waste and rain water management and getting rid of mosquito breeding places, Colombo Municipal Council Public Health Department Chief Medical Officer Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam told the Daily News yesterday.

This decision was taken by the experts who participated at the South East Asian Regional Meeting on Dengue and Chikungunya Fever in Thiland recently.

Dr. Kariyawasam said President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s involvement in the Dengue control campaign by forming a Presidential Task Force to tackle the issues was highly commended by the delegates.

The final session of the meeting was presided by the Co-Chairman of the meeting Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam. The meeting was attended by managers of dengue control campaigns from 10 countries.