Dengue on the rise with 10924 cases in January: Epidemiology Unit

Over ten thousand dengue cases (10924) were recorded in the month of January this year alone while another 428 cases reported in the first week of February, according to the Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health. 

The highest number of dengue patients were reported from Colombo at 1,693, followed by Trincomalee in the east with 1,278, Jaffna with 1,061, Batticaloa with 1,044, Gampaha with 74, and Kandy, in the Central with 662 patients. In 2018, 90 deaths were reported due to the dengue epidemic.

Approximately 25.4 % of dengue cases were reported from the Western province. The highest numbers of dengue cases were reported during the 29th week of 2017.

The outbreak situation in 2017 warranted extensive and regular removal of possible mosquito breeding sites from the environment, along with strengthened patient education on management of fever which resulted in a relatively low mortality.

Medical professionals said that it is very important to seek medical attention in the event of fever and to do relevant laboratory investigations at least by day three of the illness.