Dengue cases on the rise islandwide

by Carol Aloysius

Over 4,659 suspected dengue cases have been reported islandwide last month, Epidemiology Unit sources have said.

This is more than a thousand cases reported in the same month last year ( 3,610.)

The Western Province had the highest number of reported cases (approximately 42.73%), the highest number reported during the fourth week of the month, a circular issued by the Epidemiology Unit stated.

The highest increases were in the Colombo district with Colombo (1,316 cases), Jaffna (558 cases), Gampaha (434), Batticaloa (217) and Kurunegala ( 238) having the highest number of cases.

The Colombo MC area had 412 reported cases while all other areas in the Colombo municipal district totalled 904. Sources said that nearly 70 percent of the reported cases were positive.

According to CMC sources the first dengue death was reported at Crow Island last week.

In a clean up campaign in several high risk areas in the Colombo muncipal area, where the CMC officials and the Health Ministry with the tri forces focussed on Colombo North and surrounding areas, several breeding sites for mosquitoes were found.

So far nearly 30 cases have been filed.