When Worlds Collide #104: Dengue Control sans Chemicals?

When Worlds Collide, by Nalaka Gunawardene

Text of my ‘When Worlds Collide’ column published in Ceylon Today broadsheet newspaper on 25 April 2014

Dengue-carrying mosquito Aedes aegypti

Last week, discussing dengue fever as a silent disaster, I wrote: “For now, there is no specific antiviral drug or effective vaccine against dengue. Control and prevention are the best available defences.”

We looked at the value of environmental sanitation — keeping water containers covered, and protecting or sealing off natural water sources. In short, all measures to deprive its mosquito vector the watery medium it needs to breed and multiply.

I return to the topic in view of its high topicality. The national mosquito control week, observed from 2 to 8 April with the slogan of ‘Dengue Free Sri Lanka’, is now behind us. I take a special interest in dengue also because my own child contracted dengue thrice before she reached 10 years (while living…

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Author: Nalaka Gunawardene

A science writer by training, I've worked as a journalist and communication specialist across Asia for 30+ years. During this time, I have variously been a news reporter, feature writer, radio presenter, TV quizmaster, documentary film producer, foreign correspondent and journalist trainer. I continue to juggle some of these roles, while also blogging and tweeting and column writing. View all posts by Nalaka Gunawardene

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