90 dead, over 99,000 affected by dengue in Sri Lanka in 2019

A Hindu devotee lights an oil lamp at a Hindu temple in Colombo on Wednesday (Jan 1). Sri Lanka's Health Ministry announced that that dengue cases in the country had doubled in 2019, when compared to the previous year, with 90 deaths reported and over 99,000 cases reported nationwide. - AFP/ANN

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's Health Ministry announced on Wednesday (Jan 1) that dengue cases in the country had doubled in 2019, when compared to the previous year, with 90 deaths reported and over 99,000 cases reported nationwide.

The Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health, quoted in local media reports said November saw the most number of cases with more than 21,000 infected patients.

Capital Colombo saw the most number of cases in 2019 with nearly 20,000 infected patients, followed by Gampaha district in the outskirts of Colombo and Kandy district in the central highlands.

With continuous rains in the country, the Epidemiology Unit has alerted residents from five high-risk districts which include Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, in the western province, Ratnapura in the south central province and Galle in the south.

Medical experts urged people to seek immediate medical attention if they suffer from high fever, uncontrolled vomiting, abdominal pain, dizziness and reduced urinary.

"All fever patients need rest and should refrain from attending work or school," said epidemiologists, adding that Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever can be fatal.

Medical experts further urged pregnant women to seek hospital admission immediately on the first day of fever.

In 2018, 51,659 people were affected by the mosquito-borne virus in Sri Lanka, with the National Dengue Control Unit launching several programs to eradicate mosquito's breeding grounds in several districts of the island country.

In 2018, 58 deaths were reported. - Xinhua/Asian News Network