National Dengue Control Week from today

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena declared the National Dengue Control Week from 14 to 20 May. The week is aimed at accelerating and improving the effectiveness of mosquito breeding site eradication activities. The Health Ministry has sent a circular on the instructions of the Minister Maithreepala Sirisena in this regard to all Medical Officers of Health (MOHs) throughout the island.

The MOHs in dengue afflicted districts are required to hold a Dengue Control Week from Monday and to inspect mosquito breeding places at homes and public places. The MOHs together with over 120 teams of entomologists, Public Health Inspectors, Police and Security forces personnel will visit these places and carry out cleaning up activities to control vector borne diseases.

Ministry officials said that over 11,000 dengue cases were reported from countrywide during last four months and dengue deaths have gone down significantly by 50 per cent. The Minister appealed to the public to be vigilant on mosquito breeding sites and dengue fever especially during the rainy season.

Western Province recorded over 41 per cent of the total number of dengue cases in the countrywide and Colombo is said to be on the top of the high risk districts for contracting dengue. Other dengue high risk districts are Galle, Matara, Kalutara, Gampaha, Kegalle, Kurunagala, Puttalam and Batticaloa.