By Ajith Siriwardana  

Dengue fever was fast spreading with the onset of the  Southwest monsoon where some 2,857 dengue patients have been reported  last month alone, Director of the National Dengue Control Unit Dr.  Sudath Samaraweera said yesterday.  

He told reporters that a total of 18,782 suspected dengue cases have been reported so far this year.  
“Some 313 dengue cases were reported on Wednesday. Most of  the cases were reported from Colombo while cases were reported from  Kandy, Galle, Jaffna, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Kegalle and Ratnapura Districts as well,” he said.  

Dr. Samaraweera said there has been an increasing tendency  of dengue cases for the last three months and added that cases would  drastically increase in days to come due to the Southwest monsoon rains.  
He requested people to destroy mosquito breeding grounds in  houses, office premises and in public places so as to prevent the  disease.  

“It was observed that mosquitoes are breeding in  construction sites which have been closed down these days due to  economic crisis.