May 20, Colombo: Entomological surveys have revealed that there has been a large increase in the number of mosquito larvae in the Colombo district compared to previous years and due to this, an increase in the number of dengue cases currently reported is expected in the months of June and July.

Meanwhile, drones were used to spray environmentally friendly chemicals to control mosquito larvae in Battaramulla area.

The Western Provincial Council and the Sri Lanka Air Force in a joint operation used drones to spray Mosquito control liquid agents on hard-to-reach areas of government and non-government buildings where there is a risk of dengue mosquito breeding.

Western province entomologist Ayesha Sarathchandra said that using drones, chemicals were also sprayed from the air to places where mosquito larvae could breed.

So far this year 35,419 cases of dengue have been reported in the country. The highest number of patients, 17,519, have been reported from the Western Province.

The highest number of dengue cases in the Western Province has been found in Gampaha district and the number is 7,978. There are 7411 dengue cases reported from Colombo district and 2121 dengue cases from Kalutara district.

Also, 1445 dengue cases have been reported from Trincomalee district, 1501 from Batticaloa district and 2480 from Puttalam district.

The Health Department points out that a significant number of dengue patients have been reported from Kandy, Ratnapura and Galle districts as well.

Meanwhile, 14 dengue high risk medical officer divisions have been identified in Colombo district.