22 October 2019 06:01 pm
A total of 57,850 dengue cases and 74 confirmed dengue deaths have been reported from all parts of the country during this year as at October 22, National Dengue Control Unit Director Dr. Aruna Jayasekara said.
Speaking to Daily Mirror, he said dengue was on the rise owing to the prevailing incessant showers and added there was a sharp increase in the number of cases reported this year when compared with the cases reported last year.
When analysing the dengue trends, only 58 dengue deaths were reported for the whole of 2018 with 51,659 cases, which is lesser than the number of cases reported within the 10 months this year.
The Epidemiology Unit has identified five high-risk districts such as Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Ratnapura and Galle districts. Colombo district recorded a total of 12,216 dengue cases which is the highest. The second-highest number of cases, 9,421, was reported from the Gampaha district. The third-highest number of dengue patients, 5,503, has been reported from the Kalutara District. Accordingly, the Western Province recorded a total of 27,140 dengue cases which is the highest among the provinces.
The highest incidence of dengue cases, numbering 9,459, had been reported in August.
Dr. Jayasekara asked the public to be vigilant of all types of mosquito breeding sites and should take steps to destroy them on a regular basis.
“At least 30 minutes per week should be allocated to clean mosquito breeding sites,” he said.
Advice offered by Epidemiology experts:-
• All fever patients need rest and should not attend work or school
• All fever patients should only take Paracetamol as a painkiller and not Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Diclofenac Sodium, Mefenamic Acid etc, which are Non-Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) and Steroids such as Prednisolone, Methyl-Prednisolone and Dexamethasone. These drugs cause Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) which can become fatal.
• Pregnant mothers should enter the hospital on the first day of fever
• The public should seek medical treatment for any type of fever without any delay and without delaying to apply home remedies. (Sheain Fernandopulle)