The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) yesterday launched a campaign to eradicate dengue which has reached dangerous proportions in the City. The campaign is mainly aimed at creating awareness about the disease and prosecuting action on those who have failed to comply with the CMC's request to keep their premises clean.

There is a 95 per cent increase in the number of dengue cases in the Colombo city alone, the Public Health Department of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) revealed. Eighteen patients have already been admitted to the Colombo National Hospital during this month. "This is an alarming situation and there is a possibility of a rise in the number of dengue patients in the coming months unless proper action is taken to control mosquito breeding," Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam said.

Hospitals in the Capital have been asked to check and prevent breeding of mosquitoes on their premises to ensure that malaria and dengue are kept under control this year.

Altogether 469 cases of dengue fever have been reported in Male', Villimale' and Hulhumale' during the first four months of the year, the Department of Public Health (DPH) has said. The DPH also said that four cases of dengue fever had been reported in Hulhumale so far this week. Earlier the DPH had said that 90 cases of dengue fever had been reported during January this year and that the disease was spreading swiftly.

The Government has geared up its machinery to fight any possible outbreak of dengue, chikungunya and other diseases during the monsoons. A meeting of the Emergency Action Committee for the Management of possible outbreak of dengue fever, chikungunya fever and Japanese encephalitis for North Goa District was held under the Chairmanship of Collector R Mihir Vardhan in the Conference Hall, Collectorate. In the meeting it was decided to create awareness among the people about these dreaded diseases.

The wards and the OPD of the district hospital, Matale are full of patients who are victims of the viral flu which is fast spreading in the Matale district. Among the patients are victims of rat fever, chikungunya, dengue, diarrhoea and infections like the viral flu. The patients are from the villages coming under the Municipal Council, Matale who are members of the same family, pregnant women, government servants and children under the age of 12 years.

The building construction activity which is going on at brisk pace in the twin industrial township of Pimpri-Chinchwad continues to pose health problems for residents. In last four months, as many as 51 citizens have been affected malaria. Another unnerving fact for citizens is that dengue cases, which are common after the rains, have also come to light. As many as 19 citizens have received treatment for dengue in different hospitals in last four months.

Dengue Control Week aims to combat killer disease A Dengue Control Week will be implemented throughout the country from April 28 to May 3 jointly by the Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry and the National Dengue Control Unit.

One hundred and forty five dengue cases have been reported from Colombo this year, the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Colombo, Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam said.