Brace for dengue surge
By
2017-05-21
By Umesh Moramudali
As the dengue epidemic has now reached crisis proportions, President Maithripala Sirisena last week called for a report on the efficacy of the Dengue Control Programme and declared an extended war on dengue for another three months beginning 1 June.
During a special meeting with the Presidential Task Force on Dengue Eradication, the President had revealed his plans to issue several new circulars to government departments and ministries regarding the prevention of dengue.
The dengue epidemic has reached an alarming level this year, with more than 45,000 dengue patients reported within the first 5 months of the year. According to the Epidemiology Unit, so far in 2017, some 117 people had died of dengue and 46,669 dengue cases were reported, with a substantial percentage of government institutions found guilty of failing to destroy dengue breeding places.
...
SL in ?big? trouble over dengue, warn experts
By Kumudini Hettiarachchi
View(s): 273
Hit out at lack of commitment by politicians of all hues, who are not exposed to the dangers unlike ordinary citizens
Need to question how the number of people affected rose so sharply, look for the cause rather than holding onto traditional thinking
The ?mild and low? dengue season from January to May has seen a huge 47,000 people being struck down, with 125 deaths
Declare a state of ?health emergency? and use full force to battle dengue, is the urgent plea by experts as Sri Lanka slides further down the slippery slope, with this virus spread by a tiny mosquito rampaging at will.
As the country braces for the ?higher? dengue peak in June, it has in the ?mild and low? dengue season from January to May seen a huge 47,000 people being struck down, with 125 deaths so far. The dengue menace has taken a drastic turn for the worse coming close not only to last year?s full diseased numbers (61,000) but tragically also the death toll, in just five months this year.
...
In recent times, before 2017, the highest number of cases of 35,000 and 346 deaths were in 2009. When comparing the situation between 2009 and 2017, with much improved clinical management the death toll has been kept down at 127, even with a caseload of 47,000, the Sunday Times learns. In 2009, there were 1.0% of deaths, while in these five months of 2017, it has been 0.26%.
...
Is there a change in the disease pattern? Yes. From 2009 to 2016, Sri Lanka has faced DENV1 and DENV4. Currently what is wreaking havoc is DENV2. Experts say that the sequence of people who have earlier been hit by DENV1, now being exposed to DENV2 has caused the virulence to get worse.
...
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2,211 dengue patients admitted so far
-Dr. Vajira Dissanayake
Deputy Director of the Colombo North (Ragama)Teaching Hospital (CNTH), Dr. Vajira Dissanayake said there were 138 dengue patients in the ward as of midnight on May 14. A total of 2,211 dengue patients have been admitted to the CNTH within this year, with 22 deaths. She said wards were overcrowded with more than 90 patients to 40 beds. The nursing staff and minor staff are also severely inadequate, according to Dr. Vajira. She stressed on the importance of early diagnosis of the disease, because many deaths from dengue were due to the delay in seeking treatment, with patients only coming to hospital when they were in the critical phase.
....
- See more at: http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/De....YNPGQuDJ.dpuf
By
2017-05-21
By Umesh Moramudali
As the dengue epidemic has now reached crisis proportions, President Maithripala Sirisena last week called for a report on the efficacy of the Dengue Control Programme and declared an extended war on dengue for another three months beginning 1 June.
During a special meeting with the Presidential Task Force on Dengue Eradication, the President had revealed his plans to issue several new circulars to government departments and ministries regarding the prevention of dengue.
The dengue epidemic has reached an alarming level this year, with more than 45,000 dengue patients reported within the first 5 months of the year. According to the Epidemiology Unit, so far in 2017, some 117 people had died of dengue and 46,669 dengue cases were reported, with a substantial percentage of government institutions found guilty of failing to destroy dengue breeding places.
...
SL in ?big? trouble over dengue, warn experts
By Kumudini Hettiarachchi
View(s): 273
Hit out at lack of commitment by politicians of all hues, who are not exposed to the dangers unlike ordinary citizens
Need to question how the number of people affected rose so sharply, look for the cause rather than holding onto traditional thinking
The ?mild and low? dengue season from January to May has seen a huge 47,000 people being struck down, with 125 deaths
Declare a state of ?health emergency? and use full force to battle dengue, is the urgent plea by experts as Sri Lanka slides further down the slippery slope, with this virus spread by a tiny mosquito rampaging at will.
As the country braces for the ?higher? dengue peak in June, it has in the ?mild and low? dengue season from January to May seen a huge 47,000 people being struck down, with 125 deaths so far. The dengue menace has taken a drastic turn for the worse coming close not only to last year?s full diseased numbers (61,000) but tragically also the death toll, in just five months this year.
...
In recent times, before 2017, the highest number of cases of 35,000 and 346 deaths were in 2009. When comparing the situation between 2009 and 2017, with much improved clinical management the death toll has been kept down at 127, even with a caseload of 47,000, the Sunday Times learns. In 2009, there were 1.0% of deaths, while in these five months of 2017, it has been 0.26%.
...
Is there a change in the disease pattern? Yes. From 2009 to 2016, Sri Lanka has faced DENV1 and DENV4. Currently what is wreaking havoc is DENV2. Experts say that the sequence of people who have earlier been hit by DENV1, now being exposed to DENV2 has caused the virulence to get worse.
...
....
2,211 dengue patients admitted so far
-Dr. Vajira Dissanayake
Deputy Director of the Colombo North (Ragama)Teaching Hospital (CNTH), Dr. Vajira Dissanayake said there were 138 dengue patients in the ward as of midnight on May 14. A total of 2,211 dengue patients have been admitted to the CNTH within this year, with 22 deaths. She said wards were overcrowded with more than 90 patients to 40 beds. The nursing staff and minor staff are also severely inadequate, according to Dr. Vajira. She stressed on the importance of early diagnosis of the disease, because many deaths from dengue were due to the delay in seeking treatment, with patients only coming to hospital when they were in the critical phase.
....
- See more at: http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/De....YNPGQuDJ.dpuf
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