Colombo, Aug 6: A total of 47 people have died and over 2,00,000 people have been infected by dengue in the first seven months of this year, the government said on Monday.
According to the data released, till the end of July, a total of 2,34,078 dengue cases were reported, with the highest number of cases reported from the Volvo district with 7,260 cases, over 3,000 Gampaha on the outskirts of Volbo and over 2,000 in Kalutara, said the department of Epidemiology.
The department said it has identified five high-risk districts, including Volvo, Gampaha, Halle, Kalutara in the Western Province and Ratnapura in South Central Sri Lanka.
Last year, Sri Lanka witnessed the death of 50 people due to the vector borne disease.
Doctors have urged the natives of Dengue infected areas to immediately seek medical attention of they appear to have any symptoms.
“All fever patients need rest and should refrain from attending work or school,” said epidemiologists.
“Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) can be fatal,” the said.
Medical experts have further urged pregnant women to seek hospital admission immediately on the first day of fever.
This year, dengue has also gripped Bangladesh, infecting 27,437 people and killing 18 people between January 1 and August 5, according to the Directorate General of Health Services.
The unofficial death toll, however, stood around 60 people across the nation.