MONTHLY REPORT ON DENGUE

ENTOMOLOGICAL SURVEILLANCE
A publication of the National Dengue Control Unit
Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka
Vol.02 Issue No 01

January 2015

Flashback 2014
Dengue is regarded as the most complex vector borne
disease in Sri Lanka. The increasing trends of Dengue
are attributed to unplanned urbanization, improper waste
management, lack of human interest in source reduction
and may as well have been influenced by climate change.
National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU) coordinates the
activities pertaining to the control of Dengue illness.
Vector Surveillance and control, Inter-sectoral
collaboration, Social Mobilization and Outbreak
response are some of major focused aspects of the unit.
It is noted that year 2014 reported highest ever number
of dengue cases (47,246) while maintaining lowest case
fatality rate (0.21) during the year.
Since no vaccine or specific drug is available for
prevention of dengue infection, strengthening of the
integrated vector management is the key preventive
strategy. Appointing new Entomologists was an
important milestone for the system as they will be able to
streamline the vector surveillance activities at regional
level. Recruiting 50 Entomological Assistants for high
risk areas will enhance the surveillance activities at
divisional level.
One of the greatest achievements in 2014 was
establishing an Entomology Laboratory and refurbishing
the entire NDCU office area. Entomological surveillance
was strengthened through circulating consolidated data
as Monthly Report of Dengue Entomological
Surveillance (MRDS). Purchasing and distributing
adulticides and larvicides in a coordinated manner as
chemical control methods also strengthened , monitored
and evaluated in 2014.
Several workshops on integrated vector management
with the participation of more than 200 stakeholders
have been conducted successfully.
Case management is the key success in any disease.
Infrastructure facilities and training were given with the
collaboration of Epidemiology Unit to expand the ebased disease surveillance system (DenSys) in major
hospitals. Steps were taken to establish High
Dependency Units (HDU) up to Base hospitals, to
purchase and distribute HDU equipment, 150 microheamatocrit machines, 20 portable ultrasound scans and
175 adjustable beds.
Dengue, being a complex disease demands a multipronged response that involves different ministries well

beyond the health sector. Therefore, two mosquito

control weeks were declared and two dengue prevention
days were included in National health weeks to sensitize
the community.
During the South Western monsoonal periods, the
Dengue situation in the country worsened in densely
populated Western Province. Therefore, 10 successful
mass scale Emergency Dengue Control Programmes
were conducted in Western Province with collaboration
other of Ministries of Presidential Task Force. Primary
objective was the source reduction in a short period by
door to door premise inspection by trained teams. More
than 2,000 military personnel and volunteers were
trained according to the standard check list on source
reduction exclusively for these programmes. A joint
operation centre was functioned at the Epidemiology
Unit with the participation of the respective officials
from Health, Tri-Forces, Civil Defence and Police.
While inspecting 958,271 premises, 16,897(1.76%)
premises were found to have larvae. Around 25,000
notices were issued and 6,712 legal actions were taken
during these activities. Daily reviews were conducted to
facilitate smooth functioning of the inspection at grass
root level. Initiating and keeping the momentum of
social mobilization by continuous mass scale programme
was given lot of collaboration and commitment towards
a common goal. This was the key success of this
programme. This novel Civil Military Coorporation
(CIMIC) concept was published in the WHO Annual
Dengue Bulletin 2014(H A TISSERA et al 2014. Civilmilitary cooperation (CIMIC) for an emergency
operation against a dengue outbreak in the western
province, Sri Lanka. Dengue Bulletin, 38, 64-77).
A new website was launched for NDCU to create
awareness of health professional and general public
(www.dengue.health.gov.lk) with collaboration of
I.C.T.A. In addition, public awareness was continuously
enhanced through broadcasting and telecasting
spots/leaflets by electronic and print media. A National
Review, Provincial Reviews and District Reviews were
conducted to evaluate the dengue situation in respective
areas.
2014 stands out as important milestone of the history of
the NDCU with great challenges and activities. We
appreciate the dedicated efforts of national level officers
and motivated field staff who face the challenges at
grass-root level

Contents

1. Flashback 2014
2. Island wide Entomological Surveillance Summary -2014 December
3. Entomological Forecast
National Dengue Control Unit -Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka
Public Health Complex, 555/5, Elvitigala Mawatha, Narahenpita, Colombo 05.
Tel : +94(0)112368416 / 7 Fax: +94(0)11 2369893 Email: ndcu2010@yahoo.com
Web : http://www.dengue.health.gov.lk

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MRDES Sri Lanka - Vol.02 Issue No 01

January 2015
Table 1: Dengue Entomological Surveillance - 2014 December Summary

Kurunegala
Puttalam
Monaragala
Badulla
Matale

CP

NuwaraEliya
Kandy
Batticaloa
Kalmunai

EP

Trincomalee
Ampara
Anuradhapura

NCP

Polonnaruwa
Kegalle

SGP

Rathnapura
Galle
SP

Matara
Hambantota
Jaffna
Mannar

NP

6%
7%
17%
11%
3%
4%
2%
3%
8%
0%
2%
4%
8%
6%
5%
5%
2%
6%
16%
0%
4%
3%
2%
3%

1%
0%
1%
1%
0%
0%
0%
3%
2%
0%
11%
5%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
4%
5%
0%
14%
0%
0%
0%

2%
4%
2%
2%
6%
2%
1%
1%
0%
0%
4%
4%
4%
4%
5%
5%
3%
1%
1%
0%
4%
6%
7%
3%

0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
3%
0%
0%
0%
11%
11%
0%
1%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%

35%
25%
28%
28%
13%
19%
40%
17%
19%
50%
19%
39%
6%
16%
31%
33%
11%
19%
39%
51%
12%
38%
8%
8%

Killinochchi

49
410
165
26,379

8
94
42

16.32
22.92
25.45
13.54

90%
48%
36%
43%

10%
21%
37%
15%

0%
4%
5%
3%

0%
0%
0%
1%

0%
3%
0%
7%

0%
0%
0%
2%

0%
4%
0%
3%

0%
1%
0%
1%

0%
19%
22%
25%

Vavuniya
Mullativu
Sri Lanka

3,574

P&O

3%
0%
1%
1%
0%
0%
0%
5%
9%
0%
1%
0%
0%
0%
0%
1%
2%
2%
0%
0%
0%
0%
5%
0%

A/C & R

0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
3%
6%
9%
25%
0%
10%
1%
4%
6%
6%
2%
8%
3%
2%
0%
4%
8%
7%
1%

Natural

1%
3%
5%
10%
34%
7%
9%
35%
0%
0%
15%
16%
6%
33%
16%
12%
11%
16%
7%
12%
14%
24%
17%
44%

Concrete slab

52%
61%
46%
47%
44%
65%
42%
24%
37%
50%
38%
20%
61%
35%
36%
42%
63%
49%
30%
37%
48%
21%
54%
41%

Discarded
receptacles

14.76
7.92
16.02
9.72
4.26
19.20
12.55
11.19
9.66
1.94
6.04
13.55
7.65
8.37
13.55
25.22
30.17
17.48
10.53
100.00
13.93
6.81
17.86
39.22

%
Positive

282
16
242
228
32
48
333
71
119
2
104
196
44
34
37
195
140
419
293
1
79
86
134
295

Found
positive

Others

Kalutara

UP

Wells

Gampaha

NWP

Cement tanks

Colombo MC

WP

Water storage
containers

Colombo

Percentage Positivity by type of containers

1,910
202
1,510
2,345
750
250
2,652
634
1,231
103
1,720
1,446
575
406
273
773
464
2,397
2,782
1
567
1,262
750
752

Inspected

District

Province

No. of Premises

Key: This report is based on the weekly returns sent by Entomological Assistants (EAA) to N DCU. P & O- Ponds and Ornamentals; R
Refrigerators ; * No data ; Others- Tyres, Roof gutters and other miscellaneous places (eg. Tube wells, Earth pipes, Water meters, etc)

Entomological Forecast of High-Risk Areas

RDHS

MO(O)H

RDHS

MO(O)H

Colombo
Gampaha
Kalutara
Kandy
Kegalle
Rathnapura
Mannar
Matale
Puttalam

Boralesgamuwa, Dehiwala
Katana, Biyagama
Panadura
Pathadumbura
Warakapola
Elapatha , Kolonna
Mannar, Pesalai
Rattota
Chilaw

Kalmunai
Kurunegala
Badulla

Kalmunai South, Pothuvil

MC Kurunegala
Badulla

Director,

NB:
Entomological
surveillance data for the
month of December
2014 done by MRI
entomology teams has
not received

Address:

National Dengue Control Unit,

Public Health Complex,
555/5, Elvitigala Mawatha,
Colombo 05.
Comments and contributions for publication in the MRDES Sri Lanka are welcome. Prior approval should be obtained from the NDCU before
publishing data in this publication.