With nearly 35,000 Dengue patients have been reported as of Saturday (13), the spread of influenza, and rat fever are also on the rise, health authorities are focused on Gampaha and Trincomalee districts, where the spike in patient numbers has not been contained as of yesterday (14), The Daily Morning learned.

According to the Ministry of Health two teams of specialists have been deployed to Gampaha and Trincomalee to try to contain the situation.

Meanwhile, health trade unions yesterday renewed a call for the Government to take prompt action to stem the rise of dengue.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (14), GMOA’s Media Committee Member, Dr. Ruwan Jayasuriya said that with the increase of the rain, the mosquito population has increased, therefore, the dengue spread. Approximately 35, 000 dengue patients have been reported during the first four months in the year 2023.

Accordingly, during the last month (April) 29,000 dengue patients have been reported, and during the first two weeks of the month of May almost 6,000 dengue patients have been reported.

According to the reports on National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU), 76,689 dengue patients have been reported in the last year (2022) which is two fold increase from what was reported in the 2021.

“With the monsoon rains condition, there is a high rate of increase of the dengue population as well as the dengue patients in Sri Lanka, therefore the general public must be very careful with this season if not it will become worse,” Dr. Jayasuriya urged.

Furthermore, he said that the Influenza virus has also been increasing rapidly during the last few weeks, and the rainy conditions are the main reason for this virus.

Accordingly, he urged the public to be cautious of the spread of the influenza virus during the upcoming weeks and monsoon rainy season. He further stresses that pregnant women must be very cautious, and if they have any symptoms they must contact a doctor immediately. Also, those with influenza symptoms have been requested to avoid visiting crowded places.

Compounding an already difficult situation, approximately 2,600 cases of rat fever were reported in the previous week.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that, other than the specialist deployed to Gampaha and Trincomalee, the ministry was deploying all available resources to mitigate the spike in both dengue and Influenza.