Doctors urge temporary closure of schools in dengue-hit areas

By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama 

The government should take immediate preventive measures, including temporarily closing educational institutions in dengue hotspot areas, as hospitals struggle to cope with a rising number of patients, the Doctors’ Trade Union Alliance for Medical and Civil Rights warned. 

Alliance Chairman Dr Chamal Sanjeewa said government, semi-government and private schools, universities and vocational training institutions located in areas with high dengue transmission should be closed for at least two weeks to help contain the outbreak. 

He said the closures should be accompanied by a thorough cleaning and sanitisation programme at all affected premises before students and staff are allowed to return. 

Dr Sanjeewa said nearly 70,000 dengue cases have already been officially recorded in several provinces, including the Western Province, while the actual number of infections could be much higher due to unreported cases. 

He warned that hospitals were facing increasing pressure as wards became overcrowded with dengue patients, placing additional strain on medical staff.