Special Dengue Prevention Week Begins Across Sri Lanka

COLOMBO (News 1st) - A Special Dengue Prevention Week aimed at curbing the spread of Dengue across the island commences today.

The Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government said the programme will be implemented from today until the 20th of this month.

From today until the 17th, dengue prevention activities will focus centering around the public places across the island.

On the 18th of June, the programme will target all public and private institutions in the education sector. 

Accordingly, schools, preschools, private schools and all other educational institutions attended by children are scheduled to be promptly cleaned and inspected.

The Dengue prevention drive will be carried out at public and private workplaces on the 19th of June. 

The 20th of June has been designated for the inspection and cleaning of homes and surrounding environment. 

Meanwhile, authorities have warned that non prevention of mosquito breeding sites is a punishable offence under the law of Sri Lanka. 

Accordingly, legal action will be taken against those who have unhygienic environments that facilitate dengue mosquito breeding places in their surroundings. 

Police said special attention will be paid to construction sites during the programme. 

Authorities may seek court orders to prohibit the operations of such places if such construction sites are maintained in a manner that threatens the public health. 

In light of the current situation, the National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU) has urged the public to clean any potential mosquito breeding sites in and around their surroundings.

The NDCU further requested the public to seek immediate medical treatment if one develops fever and help prevent the spread of the dengue and avoid loss of lives.

A total of 41,144 dengue cases have been reported so far this year, while 24 deaths have been recorded.

Four children were among those who died.

Dengue has now reportedly spread across 12 districts and 74 Medical Officer of Health (MOH) divisions.

The highest number of cases have been reported from the Western Province, with 20.8% of the cases recorded in the Colombo District and 17.5% in the Gampaha District.

According to NDCU a significant number of Dengue patients have been reported from the districts of Matara, Galle, Ratnapura and Kandy.