Dengue on the rise

Nadira Gunatilleke

Nearly 11,000 dengue patients and 34 dengue deaths had been reported during the first four months of this year.

It has been found that half built structures and construction sites pose the main threat when it comes to dengue mosquito breeding in the Colombo city and suburbs.

The Health Ministry has delegated powers to MOH officers to halt all construction work which poses a dengue threat, a Health Ministry spokesman said.

According to the spokesman, MOH officers will not permit to resume work in any site unless they are satisfied with the precautions taken to halt mosquito breeding.

When receiving the approval for building plans from UCs and MCs, the constructors/owners must agree to keep the sites free of mosquito breeding.

The public can complain to the nearest Police Environmental Unit if they find these building sites unsafe and poses a Dengue mosquito threat.