* Public warned over rising dengue cases in Sri Lanka
Sun, Mar 14, 2010, 10:01 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Mar 14, Colombo: Sri Lanka Health Ministry has warned the public to be more vigilant with the beginning of the rainy season as the hemorrhagic dengue fever can become an epidemic in the country.

Dr. Paba Palihawadana, Director of the Epidemiology Unit, said there have been 60 deaths and 9,653 cases reported within the first three months of the year.

Colombo, Gampaha, and Jaffna are the worst affected districts each reporting over 1,000 cases. Already 1,723 cases have been reported from Jaffna with 14 deaths while in Colombo there have been 1.197 case and 11 deaths. Meanwhile in Gampaha district 1,216 cases and 7 deaths have been reported.

The Ministry urged the public to destroy dengue mosquito breeding grounds by removing stagnant water and keep the environment clean to prevent the disease from spreading.

According to the health authorities getting the country to eliminate and destroy dengue mosquito breeding places is the most effective measure for dengue control.