Dengue prevention program in 37 high-risk areas
The Ministry of Health has announced a special three-day dengue prevention program from 27-29 March targeting 37 high-risk Medical Officer of Health (MOH) areas.
According to the National Dengue Control Unit, the program will be conducted targeting MOH areas across several districts, including Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Matara, Matale, Batticaloa, Ratnapura, and Trincomalee.The National Dengue Control Unit states a total of 10,886 dengue cases have been reported Islandwide so far this year, reflecting a 43.4% decrease compared to the same period in 2024. However, with the prevailing intermittent rainfall, health authorities warn of a possible rise in cases in the coming days.The program will focus on inspecting houses, schools, workplaces, religious sites, public spaces, and other premises in the identified high-risk areas.
These field inspections will be conducted by teams comprising health officials, members of the tri-forces, police officers, and volunteers. The teams will also carry out awareness campaigns to educate the public on preventing mosquito breeding.The Dengue Control Unit urges the public to inspect their surroundings for at least 30 minutes weekly to identify and eliminate possible mosquito breeding grounds, as any environment could pose a risk.
Furthermore, people showing symptoms such as high fever with headache, muscle and joint pain, vomiting, red rashes on the skin, or signs of bleeding are advised to seek immediate medical attention from a hospital or qualified doctor.The public is also strongly advised to manage fever using only paracetamol and to avoid NSAIDs (such as aspirin, mefenamic acid, ibuprofen, diclofenac) and steroid medications (like prednisolone and dexamethasone), which can worsen dengue-related complications.
