by Melani Manel Perera

Epidemiologists and health care unions slam the government for not investing resources to stop the spreading of dengue fever before the rainy season. The mosquito-borne virus causes tens of thousands of victims across Asia and Africa each year, during and right after the rains.

Colombo (AsiaNews) – Epidemiologists with the Dengue Eradication Programme warned that the disease could spread because of the coming rainy season. Between January and April, dengue already infected 13,500 people causing the death of 76. The scientists accuse the government of failing to take appropriate steps to stop the spreading of the tropical disease, like stockpiling insecticides or adequately informing the public.

Dengue is a mosquito-borne disease caused by four distinct, but closely related, viruses DEN 1, DEN 2, DEN 3 and DEN 4). Its symptoms include high fever and can in some cases cause fatal haemorrhaging. It is found in tropical and subtropical regions, acting up during and after the rainy season. Southeast Asia is one of the most affected areas with more than 100,000 cases per year.

There is no vaccine to protect against the tropical disease. The best way to avoid it is to stay away from mosquitoes, which can be killed by a group of bacteria called Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (BTI) used as biological control agents for larvae stages or by eliminating stagnant waters from inhabited areas. Prevention is thus the key to success.

Health care unions have complained that the Health Ministry is unprepared to handle the daunting task ahead. Its officials do not have the experience to set up a task force to manage the situation.

Recently, the head of the Epidemic Diseases Unit, Dr Paba Palihawadana, in cooperation with Cuban specialists in epidemic diseases looked at the efficacy of BTI in the island nation.

His report was favourable and he got permission and funds to import 30 litres of the bacterial product for spraying. However, BTI supplies have not been used, despite the rapid spreading of the disease.

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena said that BTI would be imported even if it could not alone eradicate dengue, this despite claims by Cuban scientists that it was the only effective method against dengue-bearing mosquitoes.

In the meantime, epidemiologist with the dengue Eradication Programme have urged the public to keep their homes and gardens clean and cooperate with the authorities as the rainy season approaches, increasing the likelihood of a tropical fever outbreak.

The Jaffna Peninsula in northern Sri Lanka is the area most at risk because of stagnant waters and the presence of large refugee camps with poor sanitation.

• sri
• lanka
• asia
• epidemic
• dengue
• health
• care
• economics