• Warns of mosquitoes building resistance otherwise

 Fumigation to eradicate the dengue epidemic should be carried out in a more scientific manner as the frequent use of it may cause mosquitoes to become resistant to these chemical fumes, stated the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA).

 Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (10), the GMOA's Media Committee Member, Dr. Kamal Kodikara said that fumigation is not being carried out in all areas following proper procedures and stressed the need for it to be done in a more scientific method.  “The mosquitoes may get resistant to it, when the fumigation is done all over the country. Therefore, it should be done scientifically."

 However, he said that the fumigation is being done in certain areas where the spread of the dengue epidemic is high at present. He added that the situation in such areas is frequently being monitored by Public Health Inspectors.

 The Chairman of the Academic Association of Health Professionals, Ravi Kumudesh recently claimed that there has been a vast spread of the dengue epidemic in the last three months. “The spread of dengue was at a normal level in the recent past, but the fumigation was not being done properly, and it turned into an epidemic again." He further claimed that even though it is important to identify dengue patients properly to control the spread of the epidemic, there are no adequate facilities for testing.

 Accordingly, on the instructions of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, the President’s Secretary informed all Chief Secretaries to take necessary action in order to prevent the spread of dengue. Thus, the Army and Police forces have also been instructed to extend their fullest support in this regard.

Sri Lanka has seen a significant surge in the number of dengue cases being reported since of late, with over 30,000 cases having been reported for the first four months of this year (2023) alone.

Health authorities have raised concerns of a potential epidemic in the event the virus is not contained or controlled properly, as the number of cases is only likely to increase owing to the inclement weather.