Sri Lanka takes urgent measures to avoid dengue epidemic

Sri Lanka is likely to face a dengue epidemic if the number of infected patients continues to rise, officials from the health ministry said here Wednesday.

A total of 48,000 people have been infected with dengue so far this year, with 76 deaths reported, compared to the 30,000 infected last year with 54 deaths.

The health ministry said that urgent preventive measures have already been put in place in order to avoid an epidemic.

"The numbers are much higher this year. This is mainly due to the floods in June. We are trying our best to control the situation," health ministry officials told Xinhua.

The Western Province has been the worst affected with 49.48 percent affected. Kalmunai, in the Northern Province also has been severely affected due to continuous showers.

The Health Ministry is also discussing to raise the fines of dengue breeding places to Rs. 25,000 from the existing Rs. 1500 in order to keep the environment healthy and free from dengue.

Dengue Fever is transmitted through a mosquito. Doctors say therefore the best way to avoid dengue infection is to prevent mosquito bites as there is no vaccine or preventive drug.

Hence, doctors have recommended to avoid mosquito bites during day time by wearing protective clothing, use mosquito nets when sleeping (both day and night) and get rid of mosquito breeding sites regularly in and around your household.

These usually are discarded tyres, plastic containers, coconut shells, leaf axils, blocked roof gutters, bird baths flower vases, or any other place where rain water collects. Endit