Sri Lanka: 2009 Dengue- 33,081 cases; 334 deaths

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Re: Sri Lanka: Dengue- 240 deaths; 23,652 cases

Re: Sri Lanka: Dengue- 240 deaths; 23,652 cases

Source: http://www.colombopage.com/archive_091/Aug1250743098CH.html

Dengue cases declining in Sri Lanka
Thu, Aug 20, 2009, 10:08 am SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Aug 20, Colombo: After a peak in the month of June, the number of dengue cases are declining in Sri Lanka, according to the data released yesterday by the Epidemiology Unit of Sri Lanka's Health Ministry.

A total of 1,426 cases of dengue were reported so far in the August down from a peak of 7,050 cases in June. A total of 6,841 had been reported in July. A steady decline in the number of cases has been observed weekly since the last week of June.

The epidemic was blamed for 240 deaths so far this year while a total of 23,652 contracted the mosquito-borne disease.

The decline is attributed to the stringent measures taken by the Health Ministry to control the spread of the disease through an aggressive public awareness campaign launched to educate the public.

The Ministry even took legal action against the negligent public who promoted the epidemic by inadvertently providing breeding grounds for the mosquitoes.

The Health Ministry also consulted Cuban epidemiologists to curb the growth of mosquito population by introducing a bacterium to kill the mosquito larva.

 

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Re: Sri Lanka: Dengue- 240 deaths; 23,652 cases

Re: Sri Lanka: Dengue- 240 deaths; 23,652 cases

Source: http://www.colombopage.com/archive_091/Aug1250952251CH.html

New technology to prevent dengue deaths in Sri Lanka
Sat, Aug 22, 2009, 08:14 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Aug 22, Colombo: Sri Lanka Health Ministry has taken steps to provide fifty sets of equipment to the hospitals in the country to measure plasma levels and the thickness of blood in patients suffering from dengue hemorrhagic fever.

Issuing a special press release the Ministry said that the tests carried out by using these instruments could predict the amount of liquid need to be given to the dengue patients in order to maintain the plasma levels in their blood.

The communiqu? further said that the drastic drop in plasma levels could also be tested with these machines and such tests would help to minimize the number of fatalities caused by this killer disease.

However according to the statistics from the Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry the dengue spreading rate in the country has been declining since July.

The Epidemiology Unit reported 23,875 cases of dengue so far this year and 240 deaths from the mosquito-borne disease.

 

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Re: Sri Lanka: Dengue- 240 deaths; 23,652 cases

Re: Sri Lanka: Dengue- 240 deaths; 23,652 cases

Source: http://www.colombopage.com/archive_091/Aug1251040431CH.html


Sri Lankan health authorities warn of dengue epidemic as monsoon rains approach
Sun, Aug 23, 2009, 08:43 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Aug 23, Colombo: The Epidemiology Unit of Sri Lanka's Health Ministry today warned the general public to keep their environments clean to prevent a rise in the dengue epidemic with the arrival of monsoon rains.

The disease which seems to be declining could rise again during the rainy season as the deadly dengue mosquitoes find more water retaining breeding grounds.

The authorities warned the public as well as institutions to clear garbage and keep their environments clean of possible mosquito breeding places to prevent the spread of the disease.

There were only 31 cases and one death reported in the Northern Province. In the Eastern Province 1,163 cases have been reported so far this year with 23 deaths. However the authorities expect the figures to rise with the approaching north-east monsoon season.

The Epidemiology Unit has reported 240 dengue deaths and 23,875 cases so far this year island wide. The worst affected are the Colombo, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Gampaha and Kandy districts.

 

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Re: Sri Lanka: Dengue- 240 deaths; 24,001 cases

Re: Sri Lanka: Dengue- 240 deaths; 24,001 cases

Source: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-08/24/content_11937197.htm

Dengue fever cases rise to 24,001 in Sri Lanka
www.chinaview.cn 2009-08-24 19:29:57

COLOMBO, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The number of Dengue cases has risen to 24,001 while 240 people have died of the disease in Sri Lanka so far, the Epidemiological Unit of the Health Ministry said on Monday.

The Epidemiological Unit said in its latest statistics that of the 24,001 cases, the highest number of patients were reported from June totaling 7,048. It is followed by July with 6,843 cases being reported.

This represents a sharp increase as 4,156 Dengue cases and 85 deaths were reported for the whole year of 2008.

Health officials said the majority of these cases have been reported from the areas of Gampaha, Kegalle, Kandy and Colombo.

The rapid rise in the level of the epidemic has forced the health authorities to carry out extensive public awareness campaign to eradicate the mosquito based epidemic.

Households have been warned to keep the environment free of mosquitoes. Those who allow the mosquitoes to breed by allowing stagnating water face prosecution with a special hotline being made available for public information.

The World Health Organization says some 2.5 billion people, two fifths of the world's population, are now at risk from Dengue and estimates that there may be 50 million cases of dengue infection worldwide every year.

 

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Re: Sri Lanka: Dengue- 245 deaths; 24,084 cases

Re: Sri Lanka: Dengue- 245 deaths; 24,084 cases

Source: http://www.colombopage.com/archive_091/Aug1251208148RA.html

Dengue cases in Sri Lanka over 24,000
Tue, Aug 25, 2009, 07:19 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Aug 25, Colombo: The total number of dengue cases in Sri Lanka has risen to 24,084 during this year, the Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry said today. According to the statistics released by the Epidemiology Unit, 245 people have died due to the disease during the same period.

The country has seen the worst dengue epidemic this year. The figures reported within the period of eight months this year are the highest in the history of Sri Lankan Health sector. The worst that has been reported is in 2004 with 15,457 cases and 88 deaths.

Kandy District was the worst affected reporting 3,296 cases and 35 deaths. Colombo, Gampaha, Kurunegala, Kegalle and Ratnapura districts also show high prevalence of the disease.

This year the number affected peaked in June with 7,048 and the numbers are declining since then. According to the Epidemiology Unit the mosquito-borne disease shows a seasonal trend, where two peaks of dengue occur following monsoon rains in June - July and October - December.

The decline also can be attributed to the aggressive measures taken by the Health Ministry to control the spread of the mosquitoes through extensive public awareness programs.

 

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Re: Sri Lanka: Dengue- 245 deaths; 24,084 cases

Re: Sri Lanka: Dengue- 245 deaths; 24,084 cases

Source: http://www.dailynews.lk/2009/08/26/news11.asp

Wednesday, 26 August 2009

Cabinet memorandum soon :
Cuban method to control dengue

Nadira Gunatilleke

A Cabinet memorandum will soon be submitted to implement the recommendations included in the report submitted by two Cuban epidemiologists Dr. Aramis Martinez and Dr. Ms Yelina who arrived in Sri Lanka on July 21 to study the spread of the dengue epidemic.

Priority will be given to use locally invented mosquito controlling systems, Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva said.

Addressing a special press briefing at the Ministry yesterday Minister De Silva said in the report they have mentioned the strategies used by the Cuban Government to control a dengue epidemic and recommended measures such as implementing `spot fines', aerial spray of Bacillus Thuringiensis Israelensis (BTI) and using BTI for water tanks and other water containers at homes and strengthening vector surveillance.

They have also estimated the cost of using BTI for one premises as Rs.350/- per month. It cost US $ 3.15 for aerial spray of BTI for selected areas covering around 197,672 homes.

According to Minister De Silva the report also pointed out the weaknesses in the dengue control program in Sri Lanka.

The report says that garbage clearance system in Sri Lanka is not methodical.

The duration of clearing garbage is between 1 and 30 days which sometimes accelerated mosquito breeding. There is a possibility of breeding mosquitoes in domestic wells.

Sri Lanka's community cleaning campaign is not 100 percent successful. More awareness is necessary and educations needed for the community.

The report states that there are no gutters in Cuba but in Sri Lanka there are gutters in majority of the buildings where mosquitoes breed. Therefore arrangements will be made to educate architects on building future homes and other buildings without gutters. The main objective is to promote health friendly architecture in Sri Lanka, the Minister said..

Over 24000 dengue cases have been reported during the past eight months. The number of deaths is 240. But now dengue epidemic is under full control. But it can increase with the monsoon rains.

Without public support even aerial spray of BTI will not be able to control the dengue epidemic in Sri Lanka. A new bacteria will be introduced from next year to control Leptospirosis, the Minister added.

 

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Re: Sri Lanka: Dengue- 245 deaths; 24,528 cases

Re: Sri Lanka: Dengue- 245 deaths; 24,528 cases

Source: http://www.lankatimes.com/fullstory.php?id=20637

Dengue continues to rise

The Health Ministry said the number of dengue cases this year had reached 24,528 while the number of dengue deaths this year was 245. Giving a breakdown in the number of cases, the Health Ministry spokesman said yesterday (28) that the highest number 3,409 was reported in the Kandy District.

The number of deaths in the Kandy district was 35, he said. The number of dengue cases in Colombo was 3,210 while the number of deaths was 30. Naming the rest of the districts in which the number of dengue cases was high the spokesman said Gampaha (3,229 cases, 45 deaths), Kegalle (3,243, 22 deaths), Kurunegala (2,316 cases), Hambantota (15 deaths) and Baticaloa (16 deaths) were among them.

He urged the public to continue with their cleaning campaigns as the North East monsoons were due by the end of September. The Health Ministry in collaboration with local government bodies, Civil defence committees, MOH officers and PHIs were able to bring the epidemic under control. But the people have to continue to be vigilant if they are to prevent a second outbreak within the course of the year, he said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry spokesman said Leptospyrosis (rat fever) did not show a significant rise compared to dengue and swine flu. The country?s first swine flue case was detected in an eight year old Sri Lankan boy who arrived in the country from Australia in June. The country has had 78 cases since then. He said that 68 Sri Lankans who had travelled to Australia, India, Kuwait, Thailand, Singapore, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, USA and Hong Kong had returned to the country infected with the new influenza A H1N1 virus (swine flu). The rest are those who were closely associated with the patients after they returned to the country, the spokesman said.

The number of Leptospyrosis cases this year was 2,100. The disease had claimed the lives of 81 people. A majority of the infected were between the ages of 40 to 55. Many of them are farmers, and those who are involved in some form of irrigational work.
Source :The island

 

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Re: Sri Lanka: Dengue- 245 deaths; 24,528 cases

Re: Sri Lanka: Dengue- 245 deaths; 24,528 cases

Source: http://www.dailynews.lk/2009/09/02/news30.asp

Wednesday, 2 September 2009
Dengue under full control

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

The dengue epidemic which hit the country in January is now under full control and the death rate was zero by the 35th week (end of August).

The number of dengue cases reported during the 35th week is only 61 according to the latest statistics of the Epidemiology Unit of the Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry.

During the past eight months 4,752 dengue patients and 245 deaths had been reported from the country.

The highest number of dengue patients, 3,418 had been reported from the Kandy district. Kegalle district recorded 3,286 dengue patients and Colombo district recorded 3,226 patients.

The highest number of dengue deaths, 45 was reported from the Gampaha district.

The number of deaths reported from Kandy district was 35. Colombo district recorded 30 deaths and Kegalle district 22 deaths.

The peak of the epidemic was reported during the 25th week (June). The number of cases reported during the peak was 2,096. There were 12 deaths.

The Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry requests the public to be vigilant and continue to destroy mosquito breeding places. The dengue fever can raise its head at any time because of the scattered showers.

Source: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-09/02/content_11985674.htm

Dengue fever cases rise to 22,984 in Sri Lanka
www.chinaview.cn 2009-09-02 19:31:54

COLOMBO, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- The number of Dengue cases has risen to 22,984 while 245 people have died of the disease in Sri Lanka so far, the Epidemiological Unit of the Health Ministry said on Wednesday.

The Epidemiological Unit said in its latest statistics that of the 22,984 cases, the highest number of patients was reported from June totaling 7,048. It is followed by July with 6,872 cases being reported.

This represents a sharp increase as only 4,156 Dengue cases and85 deaths were reported for the whole year of 2008.

Health officials said the majority of these cases have been reported from the areas of Gampaha, Kegalle, Kandy and Colombo.

The rapid rise in the level of the epidemic has forced the health authorities to carry out extensive public awareness campaign to eradicate the mosquito based epidemic.

Households have been warned to keep the environment free of mosquitoes. Those who allow the mosquitoes to breed by allowing stagnating water face prosecution with a special hotline being made available for public information.
Editor: Deng Shasha

 

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Re: Sri Lanka: Dengue- 245 deaths; 22,984 cases

Re: Sri Lanka: Dengue- 245 deaths; 22,984 cases

Source: http://www.colombopage.com/archive_091/Sep1251994967CH.html

Dengue cases steadily declining in Sri Lanka
Thu, Sep 3, 2009, 09:52 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Sept 03, Colombo: The number of dengue cases is steadily declining in Sri Lanka from a peak in the month of June.

A total of 25,121 cases have been reported and 245 people have died of the disease so far this year, the figures released today by the Epidemiological Unit of the Health Ministry showed.

A highest number of cases were reported in June totaling 7,048. Month of July saw a decline in the number of dengue patients to 6,872 followed by only 2,865 cases in August being reported.

According to the health Ministry statistics highest number of cases was found in Gampaha District in August. Kurunegala, Colombo, Kandy, Ratnapura, and Kegalle Districts also reported high numbers.

Health officials attribute the decline to the intensive awareness campaign carried out by the Health Ministry to keep the environment free of mosquitoes and their breeding ground.

However, the officials warn not to ease the precautionary measures as the onset of monsoon rains in late October may bring another bout of the epidemic.

 

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Re: Sri Lanka: Dengue- 249 deaths; 25,235 cases

Re: Sri Lanka: Dengue- 249 deaths; 25,235 cases

Source: http://www.dailynews.lk/2009/09/09/news36.asp

Wednesday, 9 September 2009
Dengue death rate zero now

Nadira Gunatilleke

The National Dengue Control Week organised by the Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry will begin on October 21 countrywide.

The dengue epidemic which hit Sri Lanka last January is now under control and the death rate is zero. The number of dengue cases reported during the 36th week is only 49, the latest statistics of the Epidemiology Unit of the Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry says.

According to the statistics during the past eight months 25,235 dengue patients and 249 deaths had been reported. The highest number of dengue patients, 3448 had been reported from the Kandy district. Kegalle district recorded 3,333 dengue patients and Colombo district 3,292 patients.

The highest number of dengue deaths 47 was reported from the Gampaha district. The number of deaths reported from Kandy district is 36. Colombo district recorded 30 deaths and Kegalle district 22 deaths.

The peak of the epidemic was reported during the 25th week (June). The number of cases reported during the peak was 2,096. There were 12 deaths.

Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry requests the public to be vigilant and continue to destroy mosquito breeding places.

The dengue fever can raise its head at any time because of scattered showers, officials said.

 

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Re: Sri Lanka: Dengue- 249 deaths; 25,235 cases

Re: Sri Lanka: Dengue- 249 deaths; 25,235 cases

Source: http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=61293

USE OF BACTERIA IN DENGUE WAR


By Supun Dias

Minister of Healthcare and Nutrition Nimal Siripala De Silva said yesterday that BTI bacteria samples will be imported from Cuba soon and together with the locally produced bacteria by the Industrial Technology Institute (ITI) trials will begin.

The Minister also stated that after trials the prices will be compared and considering the effectiveness and the demand of the country the ministry will decide on what will be used to control the breeding of the dengue mosquito.

The public have been sufficiently educated and they must continue to dispose solid waste, he said. Aerial spraying of the bacteria will be decided after a team from the Sri Lanka Air Force study the process in Cuba.

A panel of experts will decide the places that should be sprayed from the air as it will lead to a public debate if sprayed in populated areas, the Minister said.

Inter sectorial collaboration will be strengthened and also enforced by law. Fifty entomological assistants have been trained to combat dengue breeding by assisting Public Health Inspectors (PHI), the Minister said.

The Cuban expert Dr. Aramis Martinez Arias said that using of helicopters is more effective than using aircraft. They also urged the government to strengthen the implementation of dengue preventing laws to prevent breeding places within public and private sector premises.

The Cuban experts also handed over a special report which contains the basic methods that should be practiced to prevent breeding of the dengue mosquito.

The BTI bacteria are used as a larvicide for Aedes mosquito control. Aedes is the target species and the bacteria are environment friendly.

The ITI developed the bacteria locally by using the knowledge of local experts on the invitation of a firm called Bio Power Lanka Ltd.

The Cuban experts were asked to prepare a special report on preventing dengue mosquito breeding, on the invitation extended by the government of Sri Lanka.

 

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Re: Sri Lanka: Dengue- 253 deaths; 25,771 cases

Re: Sri Lanka: Dengue- 253 deaths; 25,771 cases

Source: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-09/14/content_12051488.htm

Dengue fever kills 253 in Sri Lanka
www.chinaview.cn 2009-09-14 19:19:15

COLOMBO, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from Dengue fever in Sri Lanka has risen to 253 so far, the country's Epidemiological Unit of the Health Ministry said Monday.

The Epidemiological Unit said in its latest statistics that of the 25,771 cases, the highest number of patients were reported from June, totaling 7,048. It is followed by July with 6,872 cases being reported.

This represents a sharp increase as 4,156 Dengue cases and 85 deaths were reported for the whole year of 2008.

However, the number of Dengue cases dropped to 3,011 in August as the government took measures to control the spread of the disease.

Health officials said the majority of this year's cases have been reported from the areas of Kandy, Kegalle, Colombo and Gampaha.

The rapid rise in the level of the epidemic has forced the health authorities to carry out extensive public awareness campaign to eradicate the mosquito based epidemic.

Households have been warned to keep the environment free of mosquitoes. Those who allow the mosquitoes to breed by allowing stagnating water will face prosecution with a special hotline being made available for public information.

The World Health Organization says some 2.5 billion people, two-fifths of the world's population, are now at risk from Dengue. It estimates there may be 50 million cases of dengue infection worldwide every year.

 

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Re: Sri Lanka: Dengue- 253 deaths; 25,771 cases

Re: Sri Lanka: Dengue- 253 deaths; 25,771 cases

Source: http://www.dailynews.lk/2009/09/22/news27.asp

Tuesday, 22 September 2009
Thai team to conduct countrywide study on dengue

Nadira Gunatilleke

A special team of health professionals from Thailand led by Prof. (Ms.) Siri Pen is now in Sri Lanka to investigate the factors which led dengue to assume epidemic proportions in Sri Lanka this year causing a large number of deaths. Prof. Pen is the former President of the WHO Epidemiology Committee, a Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry spokesman said.

He said that the team will conduct a countrywide study to find out why dengue became an epidemic killing over 435 persons so far.

The team will be focused on three districts, Colombo, Kandy and Galle. They will hold discussions and seminars for specialist doctors from main hospitals in Colombo, Kalutara, Gampaha, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Matale, Galle, Hambantota and Matara.

Around 50 specialist doctors will take part in each program. The National Dengue Week declared by the Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry is now in progress and it will conclude on September 27. The Ministry will carry out countrywide awareness programs and cleaning campaigns. The program will commence from Pettah Bus Stand today (22nd) at 10.00 am with the pasting stickers on buses. Around 500 members from Civil Defence Committees and 300 police officers will take part in this program.

 

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Re: Sri Lanka: Dengue- 253 deaths; 25,771 cases

Re: Sri Lanka: Dengue- 253 deaths; 25,771 cases

Source: http://www.dailynews.lk/2009/10/06/news12.asp

Tuesday, 6 October 2009

Three dengue cases reported in Colombo last week

Shirley Wijesinghe

Three dengue cases have been reported from Colombo 3 and 7 within the Municipal city limit during last week, a CMC Medical Health Department official told the Daily News yesterday.

Dengue seems to raise itself usually after the rainy season and it can further develop later this year, he said.

The official said that the CMC has already launched an anti-dengue program after holding a meeting with school principals recently. The principals were asked to clean their school premises and at least 200 metres of surrounding areas additionally.

Principals were strictly advised not to keep landscaping structures including water retaining broad leaf plants in school premises and dark locations inside the buildings, he said.

He also said that most of the semi constructed buildings specially with roofing of naked slabs have been found to be good substrate for mosquito breeding.

The CMC also had taken a decision to train its health officers to adopt Cuban biological control methods for the eradication of dengue, CMC sources revealed.

 

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Re: Sri Lanka: Dengue- 253 deaths; 25,771 cases

Re: Sri Lanka: Dengue- 253 deaths; 25,771 cases

Source: http://www.colombopage.com/archive_091/Oct1254937767CH.html

Sri Lanka to use Cuban Bti bacteria as a model program to control mosquito breeding
Wed, Oct 7, 2009, 11:19 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Oct 07, Colombo: The Health Ministry of Sri Lanka has decided to use the lavicide Bacillus Thuringiensis Israelensis (BTI) bacteria imported from Cuba to control the fast spreading mosquito-born dengue disease in selected areas of the central hill country as a model program.

Dr. Palitha Maheepala, the Deputy Director General of the Public Health Unit of the Ministry said they are waiting for the approval of the Cabinet to commence the program.

The Ministry is to spend nearly Rs. 190 million for this program in its first year.

Under this model program the bacteria will be used in the cities of Kandy, Akurana and Gampola in Central Province.

The Health Ministry is planning to spread the bacteria for the Akurana city by using helicopters, Dr. Maheepala added. Liquid Bti is applied directly to the water in which the mosquito larvae are developing.

 

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Re: Sri Lanka: Dengue- 253 deaths; 25,771 cases

Re: Sri Lanka: Dengue- 253 deaths; 25,771 cases

Source: http://www.dailynews.lk/2009/10/08/news22.asp

Thursday, 8 October 2009
Stronger treatment system for dengue

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

The Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry has decided to implement several recommendations made by local and foreign expert committees to control dengue in Sri Lanka. The cabinet memorandum containing these recommendations has already been submitted by Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, Public Health, Deputy Director Dr. Palitha Maheepala said.

Addressing a press briefing held at the Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry yesterday, he said that BTI will be sprayed from the air using helicopters at a cost of Rs.188.149 million covering 62187 houses at Gampola, Akurana and Kandy. Domestic application will be used for some areas. The estimate is for a period of one year. BTI will be used in Sri Lanka as a complimentary measure to control dengue.

According to Dr. Maheepala, five other recommendations are on the Cabinet Paper. They are strengthening treatment system available for dengue patients with the assistance of Singapore and Thailand, providing modern medical equipment to hospitals to carry out diagnosis, streamlining solid waste disposal, educating heads of institutions and departments on eradicating mosquito breeding sites, fogging in order to avoid dengue fever developing into an epidemic and destroying mosquito breeding sites continuously. The Ministry has already supplied required medical equipment to 35 hospitals and the equipment will be supplied to another 50 hospitals shortly.

Acording to WHO Representative to Sri Lanka Dr. Firdos Mehta there are 16 institutions in Sri Lanka that have the responsibility for controlling dengue and not to one or two institutions or a group of individuals. Public contribution plays the main role in eradicating dengue, he added. Sri Lanka will be able to control dengue when the next rainy season comes, he added.

 

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Re: Sri Lanka: Dengue- 254 deaths

Re: Sri Lanka: Dengue- 254 deaths

Source: http://www.dailynews.lk/2009/10/16/news25.asp


Friday, 16 October 2009
Girl dies of dengue in Kandy

During current year 3,278 dengue cases reported

Indika POLKOTUWA and Gamini CHANDRASENA

A schoolgirl of Maha Maya Girls School, Kandy who was admitted to the Kandy General Hospital with high fever died yesterday.

D.K.D. Aresha from Kahalla, Katugastota, a seven-year-old girl had suffered an attack of dengue.

During the current year 3,278 dengue cases were reported in the Kandy district and 33 had succumbed to the disease, Central Province Director of Health Services Dr. Shanthi Samarasinghe said.

 

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Re: Sri Lanka: Dengue- 254 deaths

Re: Sri Lanka: Dengue- 254 deaths

Source: http://www.colombopage.com/archive_091/Nov1258035007KA.html

Dengue figures increased in several districts; Sri Lanka health Ministry warns public
Thu, Nov 12, 2009, 07:40 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Nov 12, Colombo: According to recent statistics it has been revealed that the number of dengue patients in the Colombo, Gampaha, Matale and Vavuniya districts has increased once again in the month of October, compare to the September figures, Dengue Control Unit Consultant Community Physician Dr. Nimalka Pannilahetti said.

The Health Ministry's statistics indicate that, there were 196 cases reported from the Colombo district in September and in October it was 360. Form Gampaha 286 cases reported in September and in October it was 340. There were 106 cases reported in September in Matale and 251 cases in October. In September there were 45 cases in Vavuniya and in October it was 98.

According to the figures, number of dengue patients has become doubled in some districts.

"These days heavy rains are lashing many parts of the country. As a result we see the number of dengue cases rapidly growing mainly in Colombo, Gampaha and Matale districts. Not only rains, carelessness in the part of people and garbage problem, too are contributory factors," Dr. Pannilahetti said.

 

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Re: Sri Lanka: Dengue- 254 deaths

Re: Sri Lanka: Dengue- 254 deaths

Source: http://www.dailynews.lk/2009/11/25/news04.asp

Dengue has affected 75 percent of Colombo?s children

Nadira Gunatilleke

The Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry has discovered that 75 percent of the children below the age of 12 living in Colombo city limits have been infected with the dengue virus and there is a possibility of those with weak immune systems, being vulnerable to the disease, a Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry spokesman said.

He said it was discovered during a recent study by the Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry. The dengue fever can spread again with the monsoon rains. Therefore the public should be vigilant. The public and provincial authorities should take steps to destroy mosquito breeding places on a regular basis to prevent another dengue outbreak.

According to the spokesman the same study had shown that in 2009 the number of dengue cases increased up to 30,000 and 280 deaths due to the epigenetic changes of the Dengue Genotype 01. The other main factors which contributed to the outbreak were the negligence of the public and haphazard system of solid waste management of the local government bodies.

In 2004 the dengue outbreak was limited to main cities but this year it hit all areas including outstations. This condition is very similar to the situation faced by Singapore.

Dengue outbreak

* 30,000 cases and 280 deaths

* Negligence of the public

* Haphazard system of solid waste management

 

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Re: Sri Lanka: Dengue- 289 deaths

Re: Sri Lanka: Dengue- 289 deaths

Source: http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=70983

Two deaths: IUSF appeals to health authorities



Protect students from fast spreading dengue fever

By Sandun A. Jayasekera

The Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) yesterday appealed to the health and higher education authorities to take immediate steps to protect university students from dengue fever as a large number of undergraduates have fallen victims to the fast spreading flu with two deaths reported up to now.

IUSF convener Udul Premaratne said a student of the Faculty of Aesthetic Studies had succumbed to Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever a few days back and another student of the Sabaragamuwa University died of the same complications.

Nearly 1,000 students from the Sabaragamuwa, Peradeniya and Sri Jayawardanapura Universities, Faculty of Aesthetic Studies and the Technical Colleges have already been infected with dengue, he said.

Meanwhile, Director Government Epidemiology Unit, Dr. Prabha Palihawadana said the public must be vigilant as there is a possibility of dengue spreading in the coming rainy season.

?The people must always be careful not to provide breeding grounds for mosquitoes. They must seek medical assistance at once if a family member complains of high fever for several days with body pain, red patches on the skin and vomiting,? she said.

There were 31,404 reported cases and 289 deaths from dengue by yesterday from all parts of the country.