• People asked to be alert over similar symptoms to COVID
• Contradictory stats on dengue cases

By Sheain Fernandopulle 

There seems to be no respite for Sri Lanka despite a slight dip in COVID cases as the country witnesses a dramatic spike in dengue cases, with over 130 cases reported yesterday (01) alone. 

When analysing the dengue data on the National Dengue Control Unit, some 22,520 cases have been reported so far since January this year, while 2,979 cases were reported in October alone.

The highest number of cases of 7,346 has been reported from the Colombo District, while 32 infections were reported yesterday alone (01).

The Western Province recorded a total number of 12,317 dengue cases so far, which is the highest among the provinces. Speaking to Daily Mirror, Dr. Nimalka Pannila Hetti, Consultant Community Physician at the National Dengue Control Unit said that people need to be alert as symptoms of fever, chills, muscle pain, nausea, diarrhoea etc., which could be similar to COVID.