The Sri Lanka Red Cross Society acts to contain a dengue outbreak

The Sri Lanka Red Cross Society acts to contain a dengue outbreak

The Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS) has activated its simplified early action protocol (EAP) for dengue. It is now acting to prevent the disease from spreading among at-risk populations in the Colombo, Gampaha, Jaffna, Kalutara and Kandy districts.

The simplified EAP was activated after the trigger thresholds – based on caseloads in at-risk areas – were reached. This automatically released 77,140 Swiss francs (97,748 US dollars/84,166 euros) from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent’s (IFRC) Disaster Response Emergency Fund. Further funds had already been provided for readiness activities and pre-positioning relief items.

The actions, being implemented over a three-month period, include:

• clean-up campaigns to eliminate mosquito breeding sites in communities (e.g., in schools), targeting the high-risk areas identified by the National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU) of the Ministry of Health
• house-to-house surveillance campaigns
• the distribution of information, education and communications materials
• training and awareness for households, for example on water hygiene practices
• the distribution of mosquito repellent to school children in high-risk zones.

The Simplified EAP for dengue was activated after the NDCU reported a confirmed weekly caseload exceeding the trigger point of 1,500. The Western Province reported the highest number of cases, followed by the Southern and Sabaragamuwa provinces.

Many districts are also experiencing considerable rainfall, which can increase the risk of the disease spreading, as standing water provides a breeding site for the mosquitoes that transmit dengue.