Dengue on the rise: Clean up your backyard!

These days, many HELP members and the two Sathkara children’s societies in Millaniya and Horana are actively involved in a ‘dengue raid’ to stop the spread of this mosquito-borne virus. The mosquito breeding period is highest in the rainy months from April to September. Dengue is on the rise, according to the health authorities in Sri Lanka. During the last five months, over 127 persons have died of dengue. Over 9,000 persons have been affected with dengue fever so far. (Source: Daily News.) Kandy, Colombo, Gampaha, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Kalutara, Matale, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Hambantota, Ratnapura and Matara have been identified as the highest-risk districts.

Dengue is transmitted by the dengue mosquito, Aedes aegypti, a daytime biter and the primary vector. The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, can also infect humans. The surest preventive action is to eliminate all potential mosquito breeding sites. Water typically collects and stagnates in discarded rubber tyres, plastic containers, coconut shells, blocked gutters, bird baths, foliage, and flower pots. Mosquito bites can be avoided with the use of mosquite repellents, mosquito coils, nets, ointments and protective clothing.

In this waste collection campaign, HELP is cooperating with local Ministry of Health officers and local schools.

The Norwegian medical student Reve has studied the dengue epidemic in Sri Lanka. Her thesis (Norwegian) can be read here: http://www.ub.uit.no/munin/bitstream/10037/875/1/student.pdf.