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Sunday, April 6, 2014
Research reveals-95% Colombo residents carry dengue virus
By Umesh Moramudali-April 6, 2014
Recent research has revealed that 95% of the population living within the Colombo Municipal area is inflicted with dengue virus, giving rise to doubts about the effectiveness of the dengue prevention programmes carried out by the health authorities.
Chief Medical Officer of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam, said this had been revealed after tests being conducted on a group of people living in the Wanathamulla area.
"Only 10% of those affected by communicable diseases are identified, because 90%, who are affected by the disease or are carriers of the virus do not show any of the symptoms of the disease," he said.He noted that most people in the Colombo area have been stung, at some time, by a dengue mosquito, but due to the high immunity level they are not identified as dengue patients.
"Most people just get little headache or muscle pain which vanishes within one or two days," he said.
Dr Kariyawasam said approximately750 persons in the Colombo Municipal area have been affected by dengue from the beginning of the year to date and five deaths had been reported. He also noted that 75% of reported dengue patients are below 20 years of age and out of the five deaths three were children below five years.
In recent the past dengue had adversely affected the Colombo Municipal area and many lives had been lost due to that. According to Dr. Kariyawasam 3,900 persons in the Colombo Municipal area were affected in 2013 and 17 deaths had been reported. The matter came to light with a death of a Law Faculty student of the University of Colombo.
According to the Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry, within the first three months of 2014, 6,627 suspected dengue cases have been reported from all over the country. Interestingly, 58.65% of dengue cases were reported from the Western Province.
Commenting on the high rate of dengue reported in the Colombo district Dr. Kariyawasam noted that the population density in the Colombo District is higher thanother areas and that is the main reason for the speedy spread of dengue.
He added that proper clean up processes were not followed by most households as well as institutions which resulted in increasing the number of dengue breeding places.
Dr. Kariyawasam pointed out that most dengue breeding places are found in government institutions and construction sides. Schools and State institutions in Colombo do not follow a proper cleaning plan, he added.
"They wait till inspectors come and instruct them or fine them for not destroying mosquito breeding places. There have been places where the owners had been fined three or four times for not destroying mosquito breeding places," he noted.
He also said, most dengue patients were reported from Central Colombo, Colombo North and Borella areas. He noted that there has been a reduction in the numbers of dengue patients reported within the first quarter of the year.
By Umesh Moramudali-April 6, 2014 Recent research has revealed that 95% of the population living within the Colombo Municipal area is inflicted with dengue virus, giving rise to doubts about the effectiveness of the dengue prevention programmes carried out by the health authorities.
Chief Medical Officer of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam, said this had been revealed after tests being conducted on a group of people living in the Wanathamulla area.
"Only 10% of those affected by communicable diseases are identified, because 90%, who are affected by the disease or are carriers of the virus do not show any of the symptoms of the disease," he said.He noted that most people in the Colombo area have been stung, at some time, by a dengue mosquito, but due to the high immunity level they are not identified as dengue patients.
"Most people just get little headache or muscle pain which vanishes within one or two days," he said.
Dr Kariyawasam said approximately750 persons in the Colombo Municipal area have been affected by dengue from the beginning of the year to date and five deaths had been reported. He also noted that 75% of reported dengue patients are below 20 years of age and out of the five deaths three were children below five years.
In recent the past dengue had adversely affected the Colombo Municipal area and many lives had been lost due to that. According to Dr. Kariyawasam 3,900 persons in the Colombo Municipal area were affected in 2013 and 17 deaths had been reported. The matter came to light with a death of a Law Faculty student of the University of Colombo.
According to the Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry, within the first three months of 2014, 6,627 suspected dengue cases have been reported from all over the country. Interestingly, 58.65% of dengue cases were reported from the Western Province.
Commenting on the high rate of dengue reported in the Colombo district Dr. Kariyawasam noted that the population density in the Colombo District is higher thanother areas and that is the main reason for the speedy spread of dengue.
He added that proper clean up processes were not followed by most households as well as institutions which resulted in increasing the number of dengue breeding places.
Dr. Kariyawasam pointed out that most dengue breeding places are found in government institutions and construction sides. Schools and State institutions in Colombo do not follow a proper cleaning plan, he added.
"They wait till inspectors come and instruct them or fine them for not destroying mosquito breeding places. There have been places where the owners had been fined three or four times for not destroying mosquito breeding places," he noted.
He also said, most dengue patients were reported from Central Colombo, Colombo North and Borella areas. He noted that there has been a reduction in the numbers of dengue patients reported within the first quarter of the year.
