Dengue has taken lives of 69 people during this year. Health Ministry has planned to launch special two-day programme to destroy mosquito breeding places island wide again.
Following recent monsoonal rains, the risk of another dengue epidemic is imminent.
It said the special programme will be carried out on 10 and 11 in several districts where there was a higher tendency for the outbreak of an epidemic. Colombo was identified as the district in which the highest number of dengue patients was recorded with Gampaha, Kandy, Kurunegala, Jaffna also identified as high risk areas. It was also revealed that the most number of dengue mosquito breeding sites were found in factory premises, construction sites, educational institution premises and places of religious worship.
During the last 10 months of the year there have been 44,893 suspected dengue cases reported to the Epidemiology Unit from all over the island.
Approximately 50.42% of dengue cases were reported from the Western Province. The highest numbers of dengue cases was reported during the 29 week of 2016.
This situation warrants regular elimination of possible mosquito breeding sites. Anyone running a fever three days is advised to seek immediate medical attention as it could be a sign of having contacted the dengue virus.
