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  • Adventures & Experiences - Classic Cultural Trips with a Twist - Wildlife Encounters with Specialists – Handpicked, small , unique accommodations - Meeting real local people – Lessor known highlights
  • Adventures & Experiences - Classic Cultural Trips with a Twist - Wildlife Encounters with Specialists – Handpicked, small , unique accommodations - Meeting real local people – Lessor known highlights
  • Adventures & Experiences - Classic Cultural Trips with a Twist - Wildlife Encounters with Specialists – Handpicked, small , unique accommodations - Meeting real local people – Lessor known highlights
  • Adventures & Experiences - Classic Cultural Trips with a Twist - Wildlife Encounters with Specialists – Handpicked, small , unique accommodations - Meeting real local people – Lessor known highlights
  • Adventures & Experiences - Classic Cultural Trips with a Twist - Wildlife Encounters with Specialists – Handpicked, small , unique accommodations - Meeting real local people – Lessor known highlights
  • Adventures & Experiences - Classic Cultural Trips with a Twist - Wildlife Encounters with Specialists – Handpicked, small , unique accommodations - Meeting real local people – Lessor known highlights
  • Adventures & Experiences - Classic Cultural Trips with a Twist - Wildlife Encounters with Specialists – Handpicked, small , unique accommodations - Meeting real local people – Lessor known highlights

 

 

January sees 50% decline in dengue

By Shannon Jayawardena

image 077c1341ecThe Ministry of Health’s National Dengue Control Unit said that January 2018 had seen an overall reduction in dengue cases throughout the island, with there being 50% fewer patients compared to the same month last year.

However, areas in Jaffna, Batticaloa, Kalmunai and Puttalam have been continuing to report intermittent outbreaks as of last year, the National Dengue Control Unit observed.

According to officials from within the unit, it is important to be cautious from 6.00 to 10.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m.-6.30 p.m. by using repellent to avoid mosquito bites. Wearing clothes that cover exposed body parts during the day and using bed nets when resting are also important precautionary measures. 


While dengue is a viral infection transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito, there are four closely related but anti-genially different serotypes of the virus that can cause dengue which are DEN 1, DEN 2, DEN 3 and DEN 4. Dengue has a wide spectrum of infection outcomes (asymptomatic to symptomatic). Hence symptomatic illness can vary from undifferentiated fever (viral syndrome), dengue fever (DF), dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) and dengue with unusual manifestations.

Severe vomiting, abdominal pain, increased thirst, drowsiness and excessive sleepiness, loss of appetite, abnormal bleeding manifestations, cold and clammy skin, restlessness and irritability, skin mottling, decreased or no urine output and behaviour changes such as confusion or use of foul language are the main symptoms and if present should seek immediate medical attention.  It is also important to know that any acute fever with both headache and pain around the eyes, muscle or joint pain, diffused reddish rash, nausea and vomiting or any bleeding manifestation from the gum, nasal and skin are signs of a possible dengue infection.


However, early identification and management of dengue can help reduce morbidity and mortality. At the present hyper-endemic setting in Sri Lanka, dengue is considered in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting the acute onset of fever with a headache, retro-orbital pain, myalgia, arthralgia, rash (diffuse, erythematous, macular), haemorrhagic manifestation, Leukopenia (<5000/mm3), platelet count ≤150,000/mm3 and rising Hematocrit of 5-10%.


If the above symptoms are observed one should seek proper early medical advice, take physical rest by avoiding any form of exercise or sport, drink adequate amounts of liquids, avoid self-medication with drugs other than the correct dosage of Paracetamol  for fever, do a full blood count by day three of the fever based on medical advice and avoid non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen, Diclofenac sodium, Mefenamic acid and steroids such as Prednisolone or Dexamethasone for the febrile illness.

World Health Organisation statistics state that approximately 55% of the global population who live in endemic countries in the tropics and subtropics are at the highest risk of contracting dengue while over 1.3 billion of them come from the South Asian region.

Sri Lanka suffered greatly with the substantial increase of dengue transmission during May-July last year. Numbers from the National Dengue Prevention Unit show that 185,688 dengue patients were reported in 2017 while around 400 died of the disease. 

Nevertheless, immediate preventive action by Health Department officials with multi-sectorial collaboration as provided by the Presidential Task Force on dengue control curtailed the situation successfully. 

Intensified disease surveillance, improvement of clinical management facilities including laboratory services, enhanced patient awareness, expanded mosquito control activities as well as the deployment of additional manpower to help the affected areas during last year’s outbreak have really contributed towards this year’s 50% reduction.

Content and Image copyrights: DailyFT

DailyFT

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We take pride in offering the exclusive and unique experiences going beyond just the tourist highlights. We believe that no two persons on this earth could be the same, so therefore no holiday created should be the same too. With our unparalleled access to all the hidden corners, we don't merely create holidays, we design experiences that money can’t buy.  

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Our tours are designed to grant you an intimate peak into the country and meeting real local people. With our special relationships cultivated over the years, our tours offer access into villages and homes to provide truly unique perspectives. This is something we are really specialized in. You do things together, share a meal or take part in a religious ritual; you become their guest but not a paid tourist.     

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Our handpicked accommodations are way different to large chain hotels with conventional star ratings. We offers small properties with quality, character, ambiance and run by passionate people. The range does not limit to “hotels” and goes into Tented Camps, Lodges, Home Stays, Colonial Bungalows, Luxury Boutique Properties as well as Tree Houses that have won multiple awards and plaudits.


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We believe that the sustainability and conservation approach in tourism is not merely an option but a way of life. While offering you unique, unconventional experiences and encounters, we strive to stay conscious of the sustainability of our habitat, people and culture. You wouldn’t find the Elephant Orphanage, animal rides or shows, or any other experiences that exploit people or animals in our programmes.

 

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Sri Lanka is an island that promises many types of adventures to suit visitors with various interests, made possible by our diverse local people who act as guides and hosts.

Sri Lanka’s diverse topography and our connectivity with each location, our professionalism and our exceptional attitude towards service make us an outstanding provider of activities and experiences in the region.    

     

One of the many attractions of the country is that you can do many activities in a very short time span, without having to travel long distances from one activity location to another. For example, you could do a rainforest walk in the morning, a whitewater-rafting trip by noon, and do a leisurely stroll on the beach in the evening, all on the same day!

 

 

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Why we do not promote following attractions

You may find that we have not included certain common tourist attractions that are generally found in other programme designs; namely, the turtle hatcheries on the southern coast, the Pinnawala elephant orphanage, the Habarana elephant rides and the Bullock Cart Trail. These are not included due to conservation and ethical reasons.

 

Turtle Hatcheries

We do not encourage our visitors to patronize the turtle hatcheries as this concept has serious negative aspects in terms of conservation. We encourage visitors to observe turtles in their natural habitats. For further information check the link below. 
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Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage

We do not encourage our clients to visit the above either. We do not agree with the concept of how the establishment is run. We are happy to see that even the Born Free Foundation has now taken a similar stand. 

Elephant back rides – Habarana
We have concerns about the way this is being done. However, there may be a few ethical operators but in general, we do not agree with the “working hours”, how they give rest to the animals, trails they use etc.

Traditional village tour with a canoe trip and bullock carts – Habarana
This is an extremely commercialized touristic operation where a lot is “staged”. We encourage the visitors to have less touristic experiences and instead experience the real Sri Lanka.

 

Wildlife Tours Sri Lanka - Fixed Departures & Offers

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