- COLOMBO — Over 25,000 dengue cases have been reported in Sri Lanka so far
this year, said the National Dengue Control Unit on Monday.
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- A total of 25,055 cases and 13 dengue-related deaths have
been reported during this period, Priscilla Samaraweera, a community specialist
at the National Dengue Control Unit, said at a press conference.
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- More than 50 per cent of the cases have been reported from
the Western Province, the country's most populous region, she said.
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- Samaraweera urged the public to eliminate mosquito breeding
sites and take precautions during the morning and evening hours, when dengue
mosquitoes are most active, Xinhua news agency reported.
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- The Ministry of Education has issued instructions to prevent
the spread of dengue and chikungunya in schools across Sri Lanka, as cases of
both are on the rise in the country.
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- According to the World Health Organisation, dengue symptoms
can range from asymptomatic infection or mild illness to severe disease. An
estimated 1 in 4 dengue virus infections are symptomatic. Symptomatic dengue
virus infection most commonly presents as a mild to moderate, acute febrile
illness.
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- Infection with one of the four dengue viruses will induce
long-lived immunity for that specific virus. Because there are four dengue
viruses, people can be infected multiple times in their lives. Early clinical
findings are nonspecific but require a high index of suspicion because
recognising early signs of shock and promptly initiating intensive supportive
therapy can reduce the risk of death among patients.
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- Symptoms include high fever, headache, rash and muscle and
joint pain. It may also cause nausea and vomiting. In severe cases, there is
serious bleeding and shock, which can be life-threatening.
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- Treatment includes symptom management, which might include
fluids and pain relievers. Severe cases require hospital care.
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