Deplorable apathy

Editorial on Dengue July 17:

“What we are witnessing is a national calamity. It is especially so considering the fact that the majority of casualties are children. Yet the enormity of the danger is not being felt by the public. Public apathy is the major contributory factor that prevents dengue eradication. Citizens are not conscious of the need for a clean environment. It would be too late when they realize it and blaming the medical authorities is no consolation. The medical personnel are also at risk as seen by the increasing number of doctors and other health services personnel that have succumbed to the disease.”

You are very correct, and you have fathomed the gravity of the situation .

Further I add:

Dengue virus is carried by a mosquito and that insect passes the virus to the eggs, and the eggs are laid in small pockets of water, and can stay dormant for years in whatever the container or the object it came to be attached, and come to life years later when ever water comes in contact.

The insect bite is not like Malaria, it happens during the day time when people are active and moving about, so mosquito nets are not much of use.To make matters worse, only about 20 to 30 percent of the infected may show symptoms. They will carry the disease and feed the mosquitoes. The reservoir will always be full.

The simple fact is that everyone in the country has to be responsible and determined to stop this mosquito coming back to life through the laid eggs. Remember these are tiny microscopic ones not like chicken eggs. There may be millions and millions all over, and you or I may be carrying them around for the mosquitoes to feed on.

To eradicate this illness we will have to have a sustained effort by every one of the population for several years. This could be the next LTTE, and I am serious.The so called miracle bacteria (BTI) will have to be applied almost every 10 days, for a very long time.

Get the people to clean up around the house and office. If you were to walk out from your desk move around a bit ,you will see thousands of places where the mosquitoes can lay eggs, heaps of rubbish and ditches.

We need to begin a forum to educate the public to get the message over.

-Kamal Tennakoon

CMC fights dengue outbreak

CMC needs to find a solution for the garbage pilled up on the streets. This is our major problem that never has been solved. We don’t understand why CMC can’t provide garbage containers so people won’t throw their garbage on the streets. Also it should be emptied in a timely manner and not to allow to over flow.

-Gamini