Sri Lanka Medical Association of North America
  • off canvas menu mobile
    • HOME
    • MEMBERS
      • Why join SLMANA
      • Join/ Renew Membership
      • Executive Committee
      • Downloadable forms
    • MISSION
    • EVENTS
    • EDUCATION
      • CME Archives
        • 2017
        • 2015
        • 2013
        • 2011
          • 2011 Poster Abstracts
        • 2009
          • 2009 CME Program Agenda
          • 2009 Welcome Remarks
          • 2009 Poster Abstracts
        • 2007
    • PROJECTS
      • 2021-2022
      • 2019-2020
      • 2017 – 2019
      • 2015 – 2016
      • 2010 – 2011
    • NEWSLETTER
      • 2018 June
        • Pediatric Endocrinology
      • 2018 – February
        • Type 1 Diabetes in Sri Lanka: An Overview
        • Kidney Failure in the Villages of Sri Lanka
        • New Paradigm for Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes
        • T2DM and CVD
        • Editor’s Message – February 2018
      • 2017 – June
        • 12TH ANNUAL EAST-COAST CRICKET FESTIVAL
        • SLMANA CHARITY BALL
        • Colonel Henry Steel Olcott
        • How a Drooping Eyelid Can Affect Your Sleep
        • Pediatric Obesity Treatment and Prevention Guidelines
        • Recent Publications from SLMANA Members
      • 2017 – January
        • President’s Message
        • Editors message Ramona and Rushika
        • Alzheimer’s in the News in Sri Lanka, “Brain Bank” at Sri Jayawardenepura University
        • Improving the Quality of Care for Acute and Critically Ill Patients in Sri Lanka: National Intensive Care Surveillance (NICS)
        • Crohn’s and Colitis: Stony Brook Walks for a Cure
        • Dengue Fever: Sri Lanka Fights Back
        • FDA Approves Use of the Artificial Pancreas
        • The Human Microbiome and Fecal Microbial Transplantation
        • Macra Who!
    • CONTACT US
    • DONATE NOW
Sri Lanka Medical Association of North America
  • HOME
  • MEMBERS
    • Why join SLMANA
    • Join/ Renew Membership
    • Executive Committee
    • Downloadable forms
  • MISSION
  • EVENTS
  • EDUCATION
    • CME Archives
      • 2017
      • 2015
      • 2013
      • 2011
        • 2011 Poster Abstracts
      • 2009
        • 2009 CME Program Agenda
        • 2009 Welcome Remarks
        • 2009 Poster Abstracts
      • 2007
  • PROJECTS
    • 2021 – 2022
    • 2019 – 2020
    • 2017 – 2019
    • 2015 – 2016
    • 2010 – 2011
  • NEWSLETTER
    • 2019 July
      • Editor’s message
      • Central Park Birding Outing April 2019
      • Newsletter – July 2019
    • 2019 – January
      • Editor’s Message – Happy new year – 2019
      • Help Them Walk Again
      • Member Talent Show: Sponsor Darshi Sunderam, MD
      • Outgoing President’s Message – 2017-2018
      • Incoming President’s Message – 2019
    • 2018 – June
      • Flooding and Rain in Sri Lanka
      • Reducing Plastic Use in Sri Lanka
      • Medical News
      • Pediatric Endocrinology
    • 2018 – February
      • Editor’s Message – February 2018
      • Upcoming Events
      • Type 1 Diabetes in Sri Lanka: An Overview
      • Update on Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes: The Artificial Pancreas
      • Kidney Failure in the Villages of Sri Lanka
      • New Paradigm for Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes
      • Dementia
      • T2DM and CVD
    • 2017 – June
      • 12TH ANNUAL EAST-COAST CRICKET FESTIVAL
      • SLMANA CHARITY BALL
      • Colonel Henry Steel Olcott
      • How a Drooping Eyelid Can Affect Your Sleep
      • Pediatric Obesity Treatment and Prevention Guidelines
      • Recent Publications from SLMANA Members
    • 2017 – January
      • President’s Message
      • Editors message Ramona and Rushika
      • Alzheimer’s in the News in Sri Lanka
      • Improving the Quality of Care for Acute and Critically Ill Patients in Sri Lanka
      • Crohn’s and Colitis: Stony Brook Walks for a Cure
      • Dengue Fever: Sri Lanka Fights Back
      • FDA Approves Use of the Artificial Pancreas
      • The Human Microbiome and Fecal Microbial Transplantation
      • Macra Who!
  • MEMBERS’S RESEARCH
    • Cardiovascular disease
      • Lipid QI Presentation deck
    • Gastroenterology
      • Bowel Disease Treatment Plans
    • Orthopedics
      • Rotator Cuff Repair
      • CTR
      • TTP MSSNY poster
  • CONTACT US

Dengue Fever: Sri Lanka Fights Back

Homepage 2017 Dengue Fever: Sri Lanka Fights Back
2017, Newsletter

Dengue Fever: Sri Lanka Fights Back

January 21, 2017
By admin
0 Comment
560 Views

Dengue Fever: Sri Lanka Fights Back

Dengue is endemic in Puerto Rico, South America and South east Asia. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Dengue is the fastest spreading mosquito borne viral disease. 40% of the world’s population lives under the threat of Dengue infection. The first reported cases of Dengue in Sri Lanka were in 1962. However there has been a rapid rise in the number of cases, especially in urban areas, since 2013.

In 2016 alone, according to the Epidemiology Unit-Ministry of Health, there were a total of 51823 cases of Dengue in Sri Lanka. Colombo was the most affected with 15303 cases (31% of total). Other most affected cities include Gampaha, Kandy and Kalutara. 78 Dengue deaths from all parts of the country were reported in 2016.

Dengue fever is caused by one of four types of Dengue viruses which are transmitted by the Aedes mosquito that feeds during the daytime (from dawn to dusk). The mosquitoes breed in stagnant water. Symptoms occur 3-14 days after a bite from an infected mosquito and can vary from asymptomatic to mild or severe. Diagnosis is based on clinical features and lab tests (such as MAC Elisa, IgG Elisa). Early diagnosis and supportive management is vital to prevent complications and even death.

In order to combat the recent upsurge in cases, the Government is taking action. If you travelled to Sri Lanka recently and smelled intermittent burning, it is probably the result of a campaign launched in July 2016 by the army, police and health authorities to destroy breeding grounds of mosquitoes. In addition, there is an initiative to educate the public regarding the disease and its vector, and to take legal action against anyone maintaining an environment that can harbor mosquitoes. Inspection of houses, vacant land and government buildings is taking place.

There are many theories about the reason for the increased incidence of cases but ultimately vector control and a vaccination if/when available are the best solution. Sri Lanka was one of four South Asian countries chosen for the Phase III Takeda trial of its live-attenuated tetravalent Dengue vaccine. The trial began in Asia in September 2016.

In the meantime, to prevent mosquito bites, travelers are advised to use mosquito repellant, wear lightweight long sleeved garments and clear their environment of stagnant water.

www.epid.gov.lk
www.iamat.org/country/sri-lanka/risk/dengue
www.infectionlandscapes.org/2011/01/dengue-part-2-mosquito-and-its-ecology.html
www.denguevaccines.org


Previous Story
Crohn’s and Colitis: Stony Brook Walks for a Cure
Next Story
FDA Approves Use of the Artificial Pancreas

Recent Post

  • SLMANA represented at BLM protest march to Wasgington Sq, NY, June 6th 2020 Monday, 8, Jun
  • Central Park Birding Outing April 2019 Saturday, 18, Jan
  • Editor’s message Saturday, 18, Jan
  • Outgoing President’s Message – 2017-2018 Friday, 1, Nov
  • Incoming President’s Message – 2019 Friday, 1, Nov

Recent Comments

    Tags

    Charity

    SLMANA

    sri lanka medical association of North America

    Follow us

    Downloadable Forms

    Click here to download

    Useful External Links

    • – Information on Dengue fever
    • – Information on Orthopaedic injuries
    • – Stop Sports Injuries
    • – Gamage and Jayawardana BMC Public Health (2018) 18:64DOI 10.1186/s12889-017-4622-z
    SLMANA Inc.™ © 2021 SLMANA Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    Terms of use I Privacy Policy
    Developed by amwebbers.com
    SearchPostsLoginCart
    Monday, 8, Jun
    SLMANA represented at BLM protest march to Wasgington Sq, NY, June 6th 2020
    Saturday, 18, Jan
    Central Park Birding Outing April 2019
    Saturday, 18, Jan
    Editor’s message
    Friday, 1, Nov
    Outgoing President’s Message – 2017-2018
    Friday, 1, Nov
    Incoming President’s Message – 2019
    Friday, 1, Nov
    Editor’s Message

    Welcome back,