The dengue pandemic in Sri Lanka is part of the tropical disease dengue fever pandemic. Dengue fever is caused by Dengue virus, first recorded in the 1960s. It is not a native disease in this island. Present-day dengue has become a major public health problem. Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are both mosquito species native to Sri Lanka. However, the disease did not emerge until the early 1960s.[3] Dengue was first serologically confirmed in the country in 1962. A Chikungunya outbreak followed in 1965. In the early 1970s two type of dengue dominated in Sri Lanka: DENV-1 type1 and DENV-2 type 2. A total of 51 cases and 15 deaths were reported in 1965–1968. From 1989 onward, dengue fever has become endemic in Sri Lanka.[4]
| Dengue pandemic in Sri Lanka | |
|---|---|
 Map of confirmed cases | |
| Disease | Dengue fever |
| Virus strain | Dengue virus |
| Location | Sri Lanka |
| Date | 1989 – present (35 years) |
| Confirmed cases |  31,162 (2020)[1] |
Deaths | 35 (2020)[1][2] |
| Fatality rate | 0.11% (2020)[1] |
| Government website | |
| www | |
Status of outbreak
edit| Month | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2048 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 1,496 | 11,608 | 5,580 | 7,278 | 10,927 | 6,694 | 6,345 | 3,610 | 3,462 | 3,986 | |
| February | 1,794 | 5,368 | 3,736 | 4,490 | 8,724 | 4,439 | 3,731 | 2,011 | 3,258 | 3,145 | |
| March | 849 | 1,683 | 3,832 | 3,380 | 13,540 | 2,696 | 1,962 | 1,648 | 2,996 | 2,628 | |
| April | 1,702 | 511 | 2,970 | 2,618 | 12,510 | 2,832 | 1,293 | 1,682 | 2,109 | 2,028 | |
| May | 137 | 1,548 | 4,260 | 3,560 | 15,936 | 2,422 | 1,625 | 4,292 | 2,614 | 2,550 | |
| June | 2,252 | 6,019 | 5,513 | 25,319 | 4,731 | 1,477 | 6,736 | 2,427 | 5,955 | ||
| July | 2,288 | 8,897 | 6,455 | 41,121 | 10,715 | 2,125 | 5,721 | 2,924 | 5,193 | ||
| August | 1,559 | 9,546 | 4,293 | 22,270 | 4,873 | 1,604 | 4,022 | 3,282 | 5,266 | ||
| September | 1,209 | 7,307 | 2,049 | 9,519 | 3,629 | 1,099 | 2,640 | 1,912 | 2,857 | ||
| October | 1,028 | 11,573 | 1,905 | 6,614 | 2,185 | 2,066 | 4,297 | 1,636 | 3,181 | ||
| November | 779 | 21,769 | 4,537 | 8,868 | 2,257 | 2,762 | 5,452 | 2,611 | 4,034 | ||
| December | 1,318 | 19,560 | 5,581 | 10,753 | 7,677 | 3,688 | 5,91 | 2,832 | 3,638 | ||
| Total | 6,389 | 31,162 | 105,049 | 51,659 | 186,101 | 55,150 | 29,777 | 47,502 | 32,063 | 44,461 |
| Region | Cases | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Provinces | Districts | 2021 | 2020 |
 Western
|
Colombo | 1,027 | 4,257 |
| Gampaha | 525 | 2,666 | |
| Kalutara | 346 | 1,810 | |
| Total | 1,898 | 8,733 | |
 Central
|
Kandy | 252 | 3,443 |
| Matale | 34 | 595 | |
| Nuwara Eliya | 23 | 168 | |
| Total | 309 | 4,206 | |
 Southern
|
Galle | 90 | 1,671 |
| Matara | 147 | 545 | |
| Hambantota | 126 | 368 | |
| Total | 363 | 2,584 | |
 North Western
|
Kurunegala | 382 | 969 |
| Puttalam | 165 | 500 | |
| Total | 547 | 1,469 | |
 Sabaragamuwa
|
Kegalle | 173 | 865 |
| Ratnapura | 211 | 2,014 | |
| Total | 384 | 2,879 | |
 Eastern
|
Trincomalee | 80 | 2,296 |
| Batticaloa | 2,818 | 3,717 | |
| Ampara | 134 | 1,298 | |
| Total | 3,032 | 5,015 | |
 North Central
|
Anuradhapura | 55 | 433 |
| Polonnaruwa | 23 | 251 | |
| Total | 78 | 684 | |
 Northern
|
Jaffna | 94 | 2,157 |
| Kilinochchi | 20 | 135 | |
| Mannar | 19 | 137 | |
| Mullaitivu | 3 | 90 | |
| Vavuniya | 24 | 252 | |
| Total | 160 | 2,771 | |
 Uva
|
Badulla | 31 | 525 |
| Monaragala | 39 | 0 | |
| Total | 70 | 525 | |
History
editDengue outbreaks started to emerge in Sri Lanka in the 1960s, with the Ministry of Health first serologically confirming the disease in Sri Lanka in 1962. However, unofficial British Ceylon clinical studies recorded dengue-like cases in Sri Lanka in the early 20th century. The first outbreak was confirmed in 1965 and was associated with DEN types 1 and 2, with 51 cases of 15 deaths between 1965 and 1968. Since 1989 dengue has become a major problem in Sri Lanka. From 1970 to 1990, multiple outbreaks with endemic were reported in Western Province urban areas. In 1990 dengue cases rose 1,350 of 54 deaths.[clarification needed] In the early 1990s, annual dengue cases were reported as being up to 1,000.[clarification needed] In 2002 the largest outbreak in recent years was recorded, with 8,931 cases and 64 deaths. The following year, 2003, was one of relatively low endemicity, with only 4,749 suspected cases and 32 deaths reported. In 2004 there were 15,463 suspected cases and 88 deaths reported to the Epidemiological Unit of the Ministry of Health. During the year 2005, 5,211 cases of suspected cases of DF/DHF and 26 deaths were reported to the Epidemiological Unit.[6]
Most dengue cases reported dominated in Western Province. Outbreaks from 2005 to 2008 were attributed to a new mutation DEN type 3. Almost all the districts in Sri Lanka have reported cases and posed a threat to the health of the people. Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara and Kandy districts have recorded highest number of cases.[7]
Background
editSri Lanka is a tropical and warm country. Mean temperatures range from 28 °C. The rainfall pattern is influenced by monsoon winds from the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal. Average rain at 800 to 1,200 mm per year. Average humidity from 75% during different seasons and in the different regions of the country. Tropical region humidity ranges from 75% to 90%. Sri Lanka is a tropical country with two monsoons: the northeast monsoon (December to March) and the southwest monsoon (May to September). Two annual peaks have been identified in the occurrence of dengue cases in the country in association with the monsoon rain.[8]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c "Epidemiology Unit". Ministry of Health (Sri Lanka). Retrieved 25 October 2020.
- ^ "Govt. calls for public vigilance as dengue death toll reaches 20". Daily FT (Wijeya Newspapers). Retrieved 28 May 2020.
- ^ Sirisena, P.D.N.N.; Noordeen, F. (2014-02-01). "Evolution of dengue in Sri Lanka—changes in the virus, vector, and climate". International Journal of Infectious Diseases. 19: 6–12. doi:10.1016/j.ijid.2013.10.012. ISSN 1201-9712. PMID 24334026.
- ^ Historical Account of Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever in Sri Lanka (1997). "Historical of Dengue Fever in Sri Lanka" (PDF). World Health Organization. 21: 1.
- ^ "Trends". www.epid.gov.lk. Retrieved 2021-04-25.
- ^ Tissa Vitarana, W S Jayakuru, and Nalini Withane (1997). "Historical Account of Dengue Fever in Sri Lanka" (PDF). World Health Organization.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Tissera, Hasitha A.; Jayamanne, Bernard D. W.; Raut, Rajendra; Janaki, Sakunthala M. D.; Tozan, Yesim; Samaraweera, Preshila C.; Liyanage, Prasad; Ghouse, Azhar; Rodrigo, Chaturaka; Silva, Aravinda M. de; Fernando, Sumadhya D. (2020). "Severe Dengue Epidemic, Sri Lanka, 2017 - Volume 26, Number 4—April 2020 - Emerging Infectious Diseases journal - CDC". Emerging Infectious Diseases. 26 (4): 682–691. doi:10.3201/eid2604.190435. PMC 7101108. PMID 32186490.
- ^ Survey Department of Sri Lanka (2012). "National Atlas of Sri Lanka". National Atlas of Sri Lanka. 2012, 2nd Edition.