The Ministry of Health has received directives from the President’s Secretary, Saman Ekanayake, encouraging them to keep carrying out dengue control activities in cooperation with the Dengue Control Task Force.
Accordingly, the President’s Media Division (PMD) reports that the Ministry of Health has begun a comprehensive national initiative to stop the spread of dengue.
The National Dengue Control Unit’s Director, Dr. Nalin Ariyaratne, has estimated that there will be an increase of about 2,000 dengue cases between the first quarter of 2017 and the present, lasting through 2023. The prospect of breaking last year’s record of 11,000 cases recorded in June and July has caused him some concern. The health officials are making every effort to avoid a comparable circumstance this year.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has suggested designating every Friday as a cleaning day in order to reduce the spread of dengue. This action emphasizes sanitation and gets rid of mosquito breeding grounds in an effort to lower the incidence of dengue.
The National Dengue Control Program’s most recent statistics show that from January 2023 to May 16 there were 34,511 dengue cases and 22 recorded deaths on the island. The Western Province has been reported to have the most instances, 17,049 to be exact. Particularly, the Gampaha District, the Colombo District, and the Kalutara District have each reported 7,797 instances, 7,219 cases, and 2,033 cases, respectively. Additionally, 2,463 instances were reported in the Puttalam District.
