MORE EFFECTIVE DENGUE PREVENTION A MUST
06 December 2016
06 December 2016
Every year we experience at least two dengue outbreaks. Both of which are accompanied by the monsoon rains. This year, sticking to its strict schedule, it has turned up again to cull our population.
This year the last dengue outbreak was reported in July where 10,636 cases were reported, by and large the highest number of cases reported this year. During the last 11 months of this year, 44,535 suspected dengue cases have been reported to the Epidemiology Unit from all over the island – among them 13,806 cases were from Colombo, while Gampaha came in second with 5,766 cases. Approximately 50.58% of dengue cases were reported from the Western Province.
Last November, we predicted that the second dengue outbreak is expected during November and January. The pattern of increasing number of dengue cases, correlated with the monsoonal rains (from May to August and November to January) has allowed the local health sector to come up with a battle plan against the disease. Accordingly, the Colombo Municipal Council's Health Department issued a notice to all hospitals and medical institutions in and around Colombo, advising them to be prepared for another dengue outbreak this month.
Recently, Minister of Health and Indigenous Medicine Rajitha Senaratne announced a motion to increase the fine for facilitation of mosquito-breeding places in their environs up to Rs 25,000.
Minister Senaratne had noted that the present laws should be amended to control and decrease the dengue from spreading. More appropriately, he suggested making it a legal obligation to pay compensation to the immediate relatives of a dengue victim, by those who maintain dengue breeding sites in the area.
Extreme as it may sound, this is in fact, a rather plausible approach to spreading awareness through stricter laws. Citizens who negligently maintain dengue breeding sites are currently being fined, but the fine is insignificant and therefore, can be ignored. There are many who do ignore the fine. However, once the fine system is reinforced and the fine increased, people will finally start noticing.
Similarly, the government should also take immediate steps to strengthen the dengue control programme in certain areas. Dengue, being an urban disease, is mainly contracted by citizens in city areas such as Colombo. Fumigating dengue breeding sites takes place almost regularly in Colombo, but not so much outside of Colombo. Thus, measures should be taken to address this and strengthen the procedure.
Similarly, the Colombo Municipal Council has initiated a plan to identify potential dengue mosquito breeding sites in the city of Colombo. This Anti-Dengue Drive has already issued red notices to the owners of 623 residences following inspection by officials, earlier this week.
According to the Dengue Control Unit, so far 76 people have died due to the dengue this year. The Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry noted that so far, 47,182 suspected dengue cases have been reported to the Epidemiology Unit from all over the island. Approximately 49.73% of dengue cases were reported from the Western Province.
The dengue outbreak is a recurring case and easy to predict. The most deadly animal in the world is the mosquito. It might seem impossible that something so miniscule can kill so many people, but it's true. According to the World Health Organization, mosquito bites result in the deaths of more than one million people every year – meaning that these tiny insects kill more humans than human murderers. The majority of these deaths are due to malaria, with dengue in the second position.
This year the last dengue outbreak was reported in July where 10,636 cases were reported, by and large the highest number of cases reported this year. During the last 11 months of this year, 44,535 suspected dengue cases have been reported to the Epidemiology Unit from all over the island – among them 13,806 cases were from Colombo, while Gampaha came in second with 5,766 cases. Approximately 50.58% of dengue cases were reported from the Western Province.
Last November, we predicted that the second dengue outbreak is expected during November and January. The pattern of increasing number of dengue cases, correlated with the monsoonal rains (from May to August and November to January) has allowed the local health sector to come up with a battle plan against the disease. Accordingly, the Colombo Municipal Council's Health Department issued a notice to all hospitals and medical institutions in and around Colombo, advising them to be prepared for another dengue outbreak this month.
Recently, Minister of Health and Indigenous Medicine Rajitha Senaratne announced a motion to increase the fine for facilitation of mosquito-breeding places in their environs up to Rs 25,000.
Minister Senaratne had noted that the present laws should be amended to control and decrease the dengue from spreading. More appropriately, he suggested making it a legal obligation to pay compensation to the immediate relatives of a dengue victim, by those who maintain dengue breeding sites in the area.
Extreme as it may sound, this is in fact, a rather plausible approach to spreading awareness through stricter laws. Citizens who negligently maintain dengue breeding sites are currently being fined, but the fine is insignificant and therefore, can be ignored. There are many who do ignore the fine. However, once the fine system is reinforced and the fine increased, people will finally start noticing.
Similarly, the government should also take immediate steps to strengthen the dengue control programme in certain areas. Dengue, being an urban disease, is mainly contracted by citizens in city areas such as Colombo. Fumigating dengue breeding sites takes place almost regularly in Colombo, but not so much outside of Colombo. Thus, measures should be taken to address this and strengthen the procedure.
Similarly, the Colombo Municipal Council has initiated a plan to identify potential dengue mosquito breeding sites in the city of Colombo. This Anti-Dengue Drive has already issued red notices to the owners of 623 residences following inspection by officials, earlier this week.
According to the Dengue Control Unit, so far 76 people have died due to the dengue this year. The Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry noted that so far, 47,182 suspected dengue cases have been reported to the Epidemiology Unit from all over the island. Approximately 49.73% of dengue cases were reported from the Western Province.
The dengue outbreak is a recurring case and easy to predict. The most deadly animal in the world is the mosquito. It might seem impossible that something so miniscule can kill so many people, but it's true. According to the World Health Organization, mosquito bites result in the deaths of more than one million people every year – meaning that these tiny insects kill more humans than human murderers. The majority of these deaths are due to malaria, with dengue in the second position.
It is not just the authority's responsibility to prevent this bug from killing more humans. It is also our responsibility to protect ourselves as well as others.
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