Dengue already at epidemic level

Sri Lanka was facing a major dengue outbreak with the number of cases already reaching epidemic levels, Senior Consultant Physician at the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH), Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama told the media on Thursday.

Dr. Wijewickrama said that according to the Epidemiology Unit, the total number of cases reported for 2023 had risen to 34,527. Nearly 50% of them were from the Western Province, with Gampaha, Colombo, and Kalutara reporting the highest number of cases, he said.

Dr. Wijewickrama warned that the worst was yet to come. The number of patients is likely to increase in June and July, and that Sri Lanka was already experiencing an epidemic.

Dr. Wijewickrama urged people to take precautions to prevent mosquito bites, use mosquito nets, wear long sleeved garments, and apply mosquito repellent. He also said that people should empty containers that can hold water such as flowerpots and buckets, to prevent mosquito breeding.

The Ministry of Health has launched a nationwide campaign to educate people on dengue prevention. The government has also deployed teams to clear mosquito breeding grounds.

Despite these efforts, the dengue epidemic is still a major threat to public health here and people are urged to take precautions to protect themselves from mosquito bites. (RK)