Dengue threat with rains

The Health Ministry yesterday announced a rise in incidence of dengue with the onset of monsoonal rains. Dengue has already claimed 83 lives this year with 24,500 dengue cases reported during the last seven and half months. Ministry sources said the majority of cases have been reported from the Western Province, particularly the Colombo district.

Around 24,500 dengue cases had been reported from the beginning of this year and 8,500 among them have been reported this month.

The Health Ministry spokesman said three dengue deaths were reported during the last three months while the number of dengue deaths has risen to 83. "We can see a rise in dengue with the arrival of rains. But there is a decline in the number of dengue deaths compared to last year. This is a result of improvement in health services and public awareness programmes carried out this year," the spokesman said.