Forex crunch boosts dengue spread

Sri Lanka has reported close to 50,000 cases of dengue during the first eight months of 2022, according to the National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU).The NDCU says 49,941 people have been admitted to hospital due to dengue during the past eight months. More than 50 percent of cases have been reported from the Western province, comprising the Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara districts.

Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ruwan Wijemuni told journalists that 12,754 cases had been reported from Colombo, 7,496 from Gampaha and 4,731 from Kalutara.Dr. Ruwan Wijemuni said they were facing multiple challenges as regards the dengue control programme.

The CMC Chief Medical Officer said that the CMC had run out of chemicals and insecticides used to control the dengue mosquito population.

“We usually carry out routine control programmes during June, July, and August, when there are rains.  However, we couldn’t do this because the CMC did not have enough funds to buy the necessary chemicals. The prices of chemicals had skyrocketed with the appreciation of the US dollar,” he said.

The limited amounts of stocks available, if used sparingly, would last for the next two months, he added.

“If we do not receive the necessary chemicals, it will be difficult to carry out any mosquito eradication, from November 2022,” he said.

Reported cases of dengue usually increase between June and August and between November and January, Dr. Wijemuni said.Mosquito eradication campaigns are hampered by fuel shortages, as well, he said.