RELATED LINKS
Latest News
News (28)
Sri Lanka reports decrease in dengue cases this year
Fifty-two people have died and over 48,000 were affected by the dengue virus in Sri Lanka, so far this year, the government information department said.
Quoting the Epidemiology Unit, the report said that the highest number of dengue cases had been reported from the capital Colombo District with over 9,500 cases.
The second worst affected district with over 5,400 cases was from the Gampaha District in the outskirts of the Colombo District followed by the Batticaloa District, in eastern Sri Lanka with over 4,700 cases.
Medical experts urged people to seek immediate medical attention if they suffered from high fever, uncontrolled vomiting, abdominal pain, dizziness and reduced urinary.
“All fever patients need rest and should refrain from attending work or school,” Epidemiologists said.
“Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) can be fatal,” Epidemiologists added.
Earlier this year, the National Dengue Control Unit launched special programs to eradicate dengue breeding grounds in several districts of the island country, including the north and east, which were identified as the most vulnerable districts.
Over 300 people were killed and more than 136,000 infected by the dengue epidemic last year in one of the country’s worst-ever outbreaks of the disease in recent years.
However, the Sri Lanka Epidemiology Unit has only seen 48,669 cases, including 52 fatalities in 2018.
While dengue cases are down, the number of leptospirosis cases are up by more than 1,000 cases in 2018.
In 2017, 3,600 cases were reported and that grew to 4,887 as 2018 draws down. As in 2017, Ratnapura RDHS reported the most cases with 731, followed closely by Kalutara with 666.
-Agencies
Source : adaderana.lk
Over 29,000 dengue cases reported island-wide
A total of 29,123 dengue cases and 58 dengue deaths had been reported from all parts of the country so far this year as of July 17th, the Epidemiology Unit said.
According to the Govt. Information Department, the highest number of dengue cases, 6297 had been reported from the Colombo district while the second highest number, 3825 had been reported from the Gampaha district.
The third highest number of dengue cases, 2724 had been reported from the Galle district, it said.
The Colombo Municipal Council reported a total of 1234 dengue cases during the same period. The other parts of the Colombo district recorded a total of 5063 dengue cases.
The total number of dengue cases reported from the Western Province is 12,624. A total of 4239 dengue patients had been reported from the country in May while a total of 5498 dengue patients reported from all parts of the country in last month (June).
A total of 3023 dengue patients had been reported from all parts of the country up within this month, the epidemiologists said
Source : adaderana.lk
Over 78,000 dengue cases reported this year
The Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health says that a total of 78,429 suspected dengue cases were reported to the Epidemiology Unit from all over the island so far this year.
In the month of November, 2019, alone 14,921 suspected dengue cases were reported to the Epidemiology Unit from all over the island.
Approximately 46.0 % of dengue cases were reported from the Western province.
The highest numbers of dengue cases were reported during the 29th week of 2017. The outbreak situation in 2017 warranted extensive and regular removal of possible mosquito breeding sites from the environment, along with strengthened patient education on management of fever which resulted in a relatively low mortality.
It is very important to seek medical attention in the event of fever and to do relevant laboratory investigations at least by day three of the illness, the department said.
Source : adaderana.lk
Over 11,000 dengue cases as of Feb 2020
Sri Lankan health authorities continue to report high levels of dengue fever into early 2020. As of February 10, the country’s Epidemiology Unit has reported 11,352 cases, about double that was reported during the same period in 2019.
Two deaths have been reported from across the country by February 7, Epidemiology Unit sources said.
District reporting the most cases include Colombo (1775), Trincomalee (1521), Jaffna (1182) and Batticaloa (1140).
Health officials say the public should be vigilant on mosquito breeding sites and take steps to destroy them on a regular basis. At least 30 minutes per week should be allocated to clean mosquito breeding sites. Construction sites are the most notorious dengue mosquito breeding sites.
Medical experts and consultants have advised pregnant women suffering from fever to get admitted to a hospital on the first day and the public to seek medical treatment for any type of fever without delay. All such patients should not attend work or school.
Source: Outbreak News
-Agencies
Significant decrease in dengue patients last year
The number of fatalities from dengue has considerably decreased in2020 after 10 years, according to the National Dengue Control Unit.
The Director of the Unit, Dr. Aruna Jayasekara, stated that 30,691 dengue patients were reported last year.
However, the total number of deaths reported among them was only 35, he added.
“There is a clear reduction in the numbers of dengue cases when considering the year 2020. As well as in the number of fatalities.
With the exception of January and February, the number of patients in the year 2020 was lower than the numbers observed in the last 10 years.”
Source : adaderana.lk
Dengue cases doubled in Nov. & Dec. - Dr. Sudath Samaraweera
The number of dengue cases reported in Sri Lanka has doubled in November and December, despite the drop in the death toll seen in 2021, Dr. Sudath Samaraweera said on Friday (December 31).
Addressing a media briefing held at the Government Information Department, the Director of the National Dengue Control Unit, he said the country has seen a total of 4,561 dengue cases in November and 8,740 in December.
Two-thirds of these infections were meanwhile reported from Western Province, he said, adding that 12% of them were detected within the limits of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) and 20% from the rest of the Colombo District. Gampaha District has reported 24% while Kalutara confirmed 10%.
According to Dr. Samaraweera, the dengue unit has identified 15 high-risk districts for this mosquito-borne viral disease.
The general public is advised to keep their environment clean and to get rid of breeding sites for mosquitoes that lead to a sharp rise in cases.
Meanwhile, Dr Nimalka Pannilahetti of the National Dengue Control Unit urged people to seek medical treatment if they are suffering from any symptoms. The characteristic symptoms are sudden-onset fever, headache, cold and muscle and joint pains.
Source : adaderana.lk
Dengue cases cross 7,000 mark in January
The number of dengue cases in Sri Lanka has surpassed 7,000 in the first month of this year alone, according to official figures.
The National Dengue Control Unit said that a total of 7,702 dengue patients have been identified in the country within the month of January.
Around 52% of these patients have been identified from within the Western Province.
A majority of the cases are reported from Colombo District while the number of dengue patients reported from Gampaha and Kalutara districts have also risen significantly, the unit said.
In addition to this, the number of dengue patients from Kurunegala and Puttalam districts in North Western Province have also increased.
Source : adaderana.lk
Dengue cases in Sri Lanka on the rise again
Sri Lanka is seeing a rapid rise in the cases of its age-old enemy dengue fever once again, the National Dengue Control Unit says.
Reportedly, the island has confirmed a total of 733 dengue patients within the past week. Sri Lanka meanwhile recorded 12,034 dengue patients in the days that have elapsed this year so far.
Colombo, Gampaha, and Kalutara districts have seen significantly higher figures while Jaffna District also witnessed an increase.
According to the National Dengue Control Unit, 47 MoH areas have been declared as high-risk zones for dengue fever.
Source : adaderana.lk
Dengue update
During the last 12 month of the year 2017, 185969 suspected dengue cases have been reported to the Epidemiology Unit from all over the island.
Approximately 41.53% of dengue cases were reported from the Western province. The highest numbers of dengue cases were reported during the 29 week of 2017.
More...
Overcrowding at Hospitals as patients suffering with dengue and flu is on the rise
Several hospital Authorities around the island have been finding it difficult to effectively treat patients as they are experiencing severe overcrowding.
The main reason for the overcrowding is because of the number of individuals that have contracted dengue or flu.
Dengue claims over 30 lives
Melanie Santiago
Thirty five persons have lost their lives due to Dengue during the past seven months.
The Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry said that 20,954 suspected cases of Dengue were reported during that time.
Dr. Prashila Samaraweera, Consultant Physician of the National Dengue Control Unit stated that these cases of Dengue were reported from the Colombo, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Matale, Puttalam and Kurunegala Districts.
Dengue on the rise – Colombo, Gampaha among twelve districts at risk
As flood waters recede, a risk of Dengue mosquitoes breeding in stagnant water has arisen. Eighteen thousand (18,000) cases of Dengue have been reported thus far this year, out of which more than five percent were reported from the district of Colombo.
Following the floods the Western, North Western and Northern provinces were named as regions prone to dengue.
Meanwhile, the Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health says that the Dengue epidemic is widespread in the districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Puttalam, Kurunegala, Kandy, Galle, Matara, Ratnapura, Kegalle, Jaffna and Batticaloa.
National Coordinator of the National Dengue Control Unit Dr. Hasitha Tissera said that there is a threat of an increase in Dengue cases with intermittent rains which will be experienced next month and in the coming days.
He added that even though Dengue could start out as a normal fever, early symptoms of Dengue are sudden high fever, severe headaches, pain behind the eyes, severe joint and muscle pain and the appearance of red spots on the skin.
Specialist Doctor Hasitha Tissera also spoke about immediate steps that should be taken in the event of early symptoms of Dengue.
”If fever persists for more than two days, a doctor who is suitable to examine such a condition or a doctor who is in the nearest hospital to the patients’ location should be consulted. Haemorrhaging takes place once the fever goes down. The haermorrhaging is experienced on the third, fourth and fifth day after contracting the disease. Therefore, special attention should be given to patients whose body temperatures go down gradually”, stressed Specialist Doctor Hasitha Tissera
Source: http://newsfirst.lk/english/2016/06/dengue-rise- colombo-gampaha- among-twelve- districts- risk/138289
Dengue update
During the last 7 months of the year 2014, 22876 suspected dengue cases have been reported to the Epidemiology Unit from all over the island.
Latest Disease Trends,
Approximately 57.58% of dengue cases were reported from the Western province. The highest numbers of dengue cases were reported during the twenty fifth week of 2014.
This situation warrants regular removal of possible mosquito breeding sites from the environment. It is also important to seek medical attention in the event of fever by day three of the illness.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 23 July 2014 10:46
Source: www.epid.gov.lk