Dengue death toll rises to 45; daily case count tops 1,200

Colombo, July 9 (Daily Mirror) - Sri Lanka's dengue death toll has increased to 45 this year, while the total number of reported cases has climbed to 65,034, the National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU) said.

Acting Director of the NDCU, Dr. Kapila Kannangara, said a sharp increase in infections has been recorded during the first eight days of July, with 9,654 cases reported nationwide.

He said around 1,300 dengue cases were reported on Tuesday (July 8) alone.

According to Dr. Kannangara, the highest number of dengue cases this year has been reported from the Gampaha District, with 13,332 infections, followed by Colombo with 13,150 cases. Matara has reported 4,600 cases, while Kalutara has recorded 4,354 infections.

Dr. Kannangara also warned that several major hospitals are operating at maximum capacity due to the surge in dengue patients, resulting in severe congestion and mounting pressure on healthcare services.