3rd week of August : National Dengue Prevention week
The government has declared the third week of August as the National Dengue Prevention week where cleaning campaigns as well as dengue prevention and awareness campaigns will be carried out islandwide.
Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena speaking at the Local Government Symposium held on the 21st July said that they have also taken steps to reserve the first and second Mondays and the third and the fourth Saturdays as part of the National Dengue Prevention program to carry out activities which involve cleaning and dengue awareness campaigns.
“During some of the surveys conducted in various provinces, it was discovered that more than 50% of households had turned into perfect breeding grounds for mosquitoes due to the lack of cleanliness,” the Minister said.
Dr. Hasitha Tissera of the Health Ministry Epidemiology Unit who also spoke at the event regarding the prevailing condition of the Dengue epidemic said that 13 districts as well as 65 provincial zones have been identified as regions in which Dengue is highly prevalent.
Dr. Tissera who spoke at the event of the importance of cleanliness as a Dengue prevention method said that that during a survey which was carried out in 27 schools, 20 schools had been identified as locations which contained ample breeding grounds for dengue mosquitoes.
Dr. Tissera pointed out that since the eggs take only six-nine days to develop into an adult stage and also since the eggs can last up to one year in dry conditions, the spread of Dengue has been significantly high this year. He also said that currently there are 13 districts in which the disease is highly prevalent whereas in 2004 this number was only seven.
Meanwhile, a pledge was taken by all the officials at the Local Government Symposium which commenced to give the maximum contribution to ensure the prevention of dengue as well as other diseases transmitted through mosquitoes.
This year so far, 158 dengue related deaths have been reported while more than 21,000 dengue cases have been reported countrywide.
