Over 6,200 new dengue cases detected in first 21 days of this month

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Over 6,200 dengue patients were identified in the first 21 days of May, the ministry of health said yesterday.

So far a total of 35, 931 cases have been reported this year from the entire country.

The highest number of cases were reported from the three districts that make up the Western Province: Gampaha 8,074. Colombo 7,526 and Kalutara 2,169.

Meanwhile, 2,496 cases were reported from the Puttalam district. 1,516 and 1,467 dengue patients were recorded from Batticaloa and Trincomalee districts respectively.

The ministry said about 300 cases have been reported daily in the past week.

Health officials have also started a dengue eradication campaign in the North Western Province.

The ministry advised any person with a fever lasting more than two days to visit a doctor and seek medical advice.