Over 38 dengue victims so far this year | Page 2 | Sunday Observer

Over 38 dengue victims so far this year

14 July, 2019

Thirty nine dengue victims have been reported so far this year while 58 deaths were reported last year, National Dengue Control Unit Consultant, Dr. Preshila Samaraweera told the Sunday Observer yesterday.

She said, 51,659 dengue patients were reported from across the country last year and as of July this year it is 27,625.

The highest number of victims has been reported from Galle during the first seven months this year against the corresponding period last year and the number of victims is on the rise.

In 2018, 976 were diagnosed as infected with dengue, and, in the current year, it has increased to 2,500.

Around 5,800 patients have been reported from Colombo so far this year compared to 10,000 recorded in the country last year.

“More patients are reported during July and August due to the South- West monsoon. Nevertheless, we don’t think, it would rise too high,” she said. “In 2017, the highest epidemic was recorded, with a whopping 186,000 confirmed cases. There are four types of dengue viruses,” “We are doing our best to curtail the outbreak by inspecting premises, fogging, fumigating and raising awareness. The Presidential Task Force (PTF) plays a pivotal role in this regard.

We’ve asked to strengthen the cleaning. Along with that, we have ordered them to clean, one hour each week,”.

“When one is diagnosed with dengue, we carry out fumigation,” she added.

There is a likelihood that the number of dengue patients would rise in Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Matara, Kegalle, Hambantota, Ratnapura and Kandy.

Dr.Samaraweera said, if high fever accompanied by muscle pain, body ache, headache, vomiting, and abdominal pain lasts for over two-days, it is a symptom of being infected by the virus in which case one needs to seek treatment immediately.

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