January recorded highest dengue cases than 2017, 2019: Dr. Samaraweera

The country had the highest number of dengue cases in January this year, compared to the number of positive cases reported in 2017 and 2019, the head of the National Dengue Control Unit, Dr. Sudath Samaraweera said.

He said a total of 8,197 dengue-positive cases were reported on December 2022. But 8,768 such cases were reported in January this year.

"In 2022, a total number of 76,689 suspected dengue-positive cases were reported in the country, making it the third highest reported figures in the country after 2017 and 2019," he said.

According to the number of cases reported during January this year, the highest number of dengue cases were reported from the Western Province (WP), he said. 

"50% of the cases were reported from WP. 21% from Colombo and Gampaha districts, 6% from Kalutara district, and 13% from the Puttalam district. More cases were reported from Jaffna and Kalmunai districts as well," he said.

However, Dr. Samaraweera warned that there is a possibility of more positive dengue cases in the next couple of months with the onset of the eastern monsoon season from November to February every year.

He noted that, when compared to previous years, there has been a significant increase in dengue positive cases this year.

The people should be more vigilant to protect themselves from this killer disease and offer their support to curb the spread of dengue mosquitoes by destroying the mosquito breeding grounds in their surroundings, Dr. Samaraweera added. (Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama)