NewsDesk @bactiman63

The National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU) in Sri Lanka reports a total of 33,656 dengue cases, including 20 deaths since the beginning of the year.

Image/Robert Herriman

This includes about 4,000 cases reported during the first two week of this month, raising grave concerns of a potential epidemic.

The NDCU further explained that the ongoing inclement weather conditions only further aggravates the breeding of mosquitos.

The NDCU said the high-risk areas for dengue are as follows:

Colombo Municipal Council jurisdiction – Gothatuwa, Piliyandala, Kaduwela, Maharagama, Battaramulla

Gampaha district – Wattala, Negombo, Biyagama, Ragama, Ja-Ela

Subscribe to Outbreak News TV on YouTube

Dengue is a viral infection transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. There are four closely related but antigenically different serotypes of the virus that can cause dengue (DEN1, DEN 2, DEN 3, DEN 4).

Dengue Fever (DF) – marked by an onset of sudden high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, and pain in muscles and joints. Some may also have a rash and varying degree of bleeding from various parts of the body (including nose, mouth and gums or skin bruising).Dengue has a wide spectrum of infection outcome (asymptomatic to symptomatic). Symptomatic illness can vary from dengue fever (DF) to the more serious dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF).

Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) – is a more severe form, seen only in a small proportion of those infected. DHF is a stereotypic illness characterized by 3 phases; febrile phase with high continuous fever usually lasting for less than 7 days; critical phase (plasma leaking) lasting 1-2 days usually apparent when fever comes down, leading to shock if not detected and treated early; convalescence phase lasting 2-5 days with improvement of appetite, bradycardia (slow heart rate), convalescent rash (white patches in red background), often accompanied by generalized itching (more intense in palms and soles), and diuresis (increase urine output).

Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS) — Shock syndrome is a dangerous complication of dengue infection and is associated with high mortality. Severe dengue occurs as a result of secondary infection with a different virus serotype. Increased vascular permeability, together with myocardial dysfunction and dehydration, contribute to the development of shock, with resultant multiorgan failure.