Jaffna reports highest number of Dengue victims

[TamilNet, Sunday, 09 May 2010, 23:14 GMT]
Sixty percent of dengue patients who died this year up-to April were adults between the ages of 20-25 years. Last year the victims were mostly children between the ages of 10-15 years, according to the Epidemiology Unit of the Sri Lankan Department of Health. Sri Lankan Health Ministry sources revealed a sharp rise of dengue about 200 percent has been noted in the first four months of this year compared to last year.

According to a department source that a total of 13,283 cases of dengue fever have been reported this year – from January to April end, with 76 deaths.

The bulk of cases were reported in January (4,672 with 48 deaths). Jaffna reported the highest number of cases – a total of 1,985 with 16 deaths; while Colombo came second with 1,606 cases and 15 deaths (Colombo MC area reported 530 cases and five deaths).

Gampaha came third with a total of 1,574 cases and eight deaths.

Health Ministry declared a Dengue Week commenced on May 3 concluded Sunday.