BRAIN FEVER -you health

The sudden and unexpected increase in mosquitoes that transmit has put health officials in the city on alert. Colombo Municipality Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ruwan Wijeymuni said the current weather pattern, scattered showers, could have led to the increase in the number of Culex Gelidus, a vector of Japanese Encephalitis. The mosquito which feeds between 6.30 p.m. and 10 p.m. is said to bite feet and the soles of the feet in most cases. Once bitten by this browncoloured mosquito, an individual will feel sharp pain followed by intense itching, which will then turn the area red and will be followed by hives.

Dr. Wijeymuni said the mosquito was on tour in the city, and the sudden rise of its population was alarming. “Although they don’t carry the disease Japanese Encephalitis, if they were to bite someone inflicted by the disease and then bite another, they could transmit the illness,” he said. He assured that only one case of Japanese Encephalitis was recorded this year. The younger generation was immunized against the disease after the country experienced an outbreak more than two decades ago. However, that was not the case for the older generation, he said. “It is always better to be safe. While the health officials have been alerted on the situation, we have also taken measures to fog densely-populated areas in a bid to reduce the spread of the mosquito,” the CMO added. As measures to control the situation, the municipality will fog Colombo North, South, Mutwal,

Grandpass, Mattakkuliya and Kirulapone areas in the morning for dengue, and the evening for Culex Gelidus. The CMO also requested highest public assistance to combat the menace by eradicating its breeding grounds. The mosquito often found in rice fields, where it will find organic matter, will make similar environments its breeding ground. “Please clean garbage, yoghurt cups, and anything with water that is not clean. Make sure there is no stagnant water and anything with carbonic content which will be ideal for these mosquitoes,” Dr. Wijeymuni said