Colombo, July 6 (IANS) Sri Lanka has recorded 61,060 dengue cases so far this year, with 2,604 new infections reported during the past 24 hours, the National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU) said Monday.

The Western Province remains the centre of the outbreak, accounting for 32,054 cases, or 52.5 per cent of the national total. The Southern Province has reported 9,674 cases, followed by Sabaragamuwa with 5,237, Central with 4,823, Eastern with 2,979, and North Western with 2,778, Xinhua news agency reported.

The NDCU has identified 142 Medical Officers of Health (MOH) divisions across the country as high-risk dengue zones. June recorded the highest monthly case total so far this year, with 21,546 infections.

Several hospitals in the Western Province have reached maximum capacity amid the increase in dengue patients, according to the NDCU. Acting Director Dr. Kapila Kannangara said the rise in infections has placed severe pressure on hospitals and made patient care increasingly difficult.

Kannangara said authorities have prepared a three-phase strategy covering short-term, medium-term, and long-term measures to manage the outbreak. However, emergency short-term interventions are being prioritised because of the current pressure on hospitals and the risk that deaths could rise if infections continue to increase.

In June, Sri Lanka’s Deputy Minister of Health, Hansaka Wijemuni, said a new strain of the dengue virus now circulating in Sri Lanka is increasing the risk of transmission. Authorities began a countrywide prevention program to control mosquito breeding and reduce infections.

Wijemuni told the media that the current virus contains several changes compared with strains previously detected in the country. He said many people in Sri Lanka may not have been exposed to this variant before, making a larger section of the population vulnerable to infection.

Wijemuni said health authorities had anticipated a periodic increase in dengue cases and had prepared for such a situation. He said the government’s response is focused on reducing mosquito populations and ensuring patients receive timely medical care before their condition worsens.

He also urged the public to remove mosquito breeding sites and support prevention efforts, stressing that state action alone would not be sufficient to contain the spread.

–IANS

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