Dengue outbreak: 11 deaths, 3,500 affected in three months

21 January 2017 08:15 pm

Some 3500 dengue patients have been found during the past three months of this year throughout the country of which 11 patients had died, Coordinator of the Dengue Eradication Unit of the Health Ministry, Dr. Hasitha Thisera said.

He warned that the people have to be vigilant as the disease had spread rapidly in 8 districts namely Colombo,Gampaha, Kalutara, Galle, Kandy, Ratnapura Jaffna and Trincomalee.

He observed that mosquitoes were being bred in small water containers in which people in the drought hit Hambantota, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Mannar and Puttalam store water for long periods. Dr. Thisera requested the people to store water in closed tanks to prevent this situation.

He further warned that mosquito breeding might increase with the intermittent rain experienced in several parts of the country. (Ranjan Kasturi)