Dengue fever spreads in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 January 2004, 00:07 GMT]
Dengue fever is spreading throughout the Batticaloa district, with about 10 people in the district dead from the disease within the last two months, and in the first five days of the new year, already 5 people have developed the fever, the director of the Batticaloa teaching hospital, Dr. S. Thevarajan, told TamilNet.

In December 2003, about 30 people with dengue fever were admitted to the hospital for treatment, Dr. Thevarajan said.

The affected areas include Valaichenai, Eravur, Kathankudy, and Batticaloa and Ottamavady areas.

The Health Services Department (HSD) of the Sri Lanka government has been notified about the spread of dengue fever, and the public should take precautions against the disease, the hospital director said.

Dengue fever is spread by mosquitoes, which bite people in the early mornings and late evenings. A special form of smoke is required to prevent this type of mosquito menace, but the HSD has not paid any attention to the matter, allege members of the public.

They say that the HSD should use this method to contain the mosquito menace in areas where the dengue fever has spread, while continuing with its traditional method of using malathene, the insecticide that can kill mosquitoes, in other areas.

Meanwhile, following the spread of the fever, the Batticaloa-Amparai political division of the Liberation Tigers has distributed pamphlets in the area, explaining the mosquito menace, the times at which the menace is higher, and the precautions the public can take, sources said.