• 1,000 dengue cases in just three days  

By Sheain Fernandopulle   

 The number of Dengue cases recorded in the first eleven months of 2023 have reached the highest infection levels in the past three years.  

According to the National Dengue Control Unit, the cases reported for the years 2020, 2021 and 2022 stood at 31139, 35054 and 76467.  

As of December 04, a total of 77,487 cases have been reported in 2023, with the highest number being from the Colombo district, which stood at 16,363.  

The Western Province has registered 36,266 cases, the highest province-wise, which represents over 47 percent of the total cases.   Meanwhile, Sri Lanka has recorded 46 Dengue related deaths.   Indicating the rapid spread of Dengue in 2023, Sri Lanka has registered exactly 1,000 cases within the last three days of the month of December   

Accordingly, around 300 cases have been logged per day.   Speaking on the situation, Director of the National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU), Dr. Nalin Ariyaratne said the country has again reached the stage where an average of 250 cases are recorded per day.   

According to the director, dengue cases are pegged to increase owing to the prevailing rainy conditions.  

“Hence, people are urged to keep their surroundings clean and destroy mosquito breeding places in order to keep dengue at bay,” he added.