• Sharp rise in dengue as well

As the rains kick in across the country, dengue and chikungunya viruses have reached epidemic levels, according to the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA).

Addressing the media on Friday (30), SLMA President Dr. Surantha Perera warned that epidemic levels had been noted in the spread of chikungunya and dengue. 

Chikungunya is spread by the same mosquitoes responsible for the spread of dengue, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus.

Representing the National Dengue Control Unit, Dr. Anoja Dheerasinghe said that more 23,300 dengue cases had been reported since the start of the year and that 45% of these cases were from the Western Province.

“Last week alone, 1,468 cases of dengue were reported,” she said.

She also noted that 500 cases of admissions due to chikungunya had been reported, adding that the number of cases could be far higher as not everyone with chikungunya virus was admitted to hospital.

According to them, the mosquitos breed in clear water and many such breeding grounds have been found in schools, office buildings, and construction sites. They advised the public to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds.

The early symptoms of the two viruses appear the same, noted National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) Chairperson Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama, stating that a patient would experience high fever, body aches, and joint pain during the first six to seven days.

While noting that complications for dengue would be experienced during that six to seven day window, he said chikungunya complications could be more long term as patients could experience prolonged joint inflammation and pain.

He advised the public to undergo a full blood count test and seek medical attention at a State hospital in the event they experienced fever for more than two days. 

Moreover, he said that the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, diclofenac sodium, and mefenamic acid were not recommended and recommended the use of paracetamol for pain relief instead.