Total of 15,024 dengue cases island wide:

Dengue reaching epidemic proportions

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

A total of 15,024 dengue cases were reported from all parts of the country as at August 8, according to the statistics of the Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry.

The highest number of dengue cases, (5,856) had been reported from Colombo district.

Colombo Municipal Council area recorded 2,043 Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) cases.

Other parts of the Colombo district recorded 3,813 dengue cases, Gampaha district recorded 2,222, Kalutara district recorded 817, Batticaloa district recorded 666 while Ratnapura district recorded 597.

During the past eight days, 104 dengue cases had been reported from all parts of the country.

Last month, a total of 4,631 dengue cases were reported from all parts of the country.

"Dengue is about to become an epidemic again and the public should continue to be vigilant and keep their properties free of dengue mosquito breeding sites.

Destroying dengue mosquito breeding sites is the most effective way of preventing dengue," a Health Ministry spokesman said.