In just 10 weeks dengue infections rocket past 19,400
By Anushiya Sathisraja
Getting the troops ready to fight dengue in Beruwela: A PHI talking to new recruits before they set out to inspect areas.Pic by Sarath Siriwardena
Dengue infections in the Western Province has risen sharply in the first 10 weeks of the year. Cases have soared by 43 per cent compared with the same period of last year.
Data from the Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health show that there were 19,419 cases of dengue since the beginning of the year.
The highest numbers of cases was reported during the third week of the year.
Most of the cases were reported from Colombo (4,846) Jaffna (1,172) and Gampaha (2,502). There have been 1,203 cases in Colombo Municipal Council areas and 3,643 cases from other areas of Colombo.
Major dengue mosquito breeding spots in Colombo have been identified as Maligawatta west, Cinnamon Gardens, Kirulapone, Bambalapitiya, Wellampitiya, Modera, Mattakkuliya, and Punchi Borella.
“Urbanization creates new habitats for the Aedes mosquito to breed. Closer proximity between humans also means the mosquitoes get more blood meals in the same area,” said Dengue Control Unit Consultant Community Physician, Dr. Prechila Samaraweera
Source: Sunday Times
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