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Sri Lanka: Dengue Outbreak - Jul 2017

Disaster description

There is an increase in the number of dengue cases in Sri Lanka this year. Since January until 7 July 2017, as many as 82,543 dengue cases, including 250 deaths, have been reported by the Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine. The number of cases this year is three-and-a-half times more than the average number of cases for the same period between 2010 and 2016. Based on surveillance data, dengue cases peaked in June 2017, coinciding with the South-West monsoon rains which commenced in late May. Approximately 43% of cases were reported from the Western Province. The most affected areas are the Colombo district, 18,761 cases; Gampaha, 12,121 cases; Kurunegala, 5,065 cases; Kalutara, 4,589 cases and Kandy, 4,209 cases. The current dengue outbreak follows heavy rains and subsequent flooding and landslides, which affected 600 000 people in 15 of the 25 districts in the country. (WHO, 11 Jul 2017)

Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Health reported this week that more than 87,600 suspected cases of the mosquito-borne infection have been reported in 2017, causing over 230 deaths. Dengue is endemic in Sri Lanka, but the number of infections this year is already about 38 per cent higher than 2016, when 55,150 people were diagnosed with dengue and 97 died. (IFRC, 14 Jul 2017)

From 1 January to 28 July 2017, the Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine (MoH) reported 110,372 cases of dengue. Approximately 44.5% of cases and 53% of deaths were reported from the Western province. The most affected areas are Colombo district (23,574 cases) followed by Gampaha (19,046), Ratnapura (6,583), Kalutara (6,525) and Kandy (6,475). The highest numbers of dengue cases thus far was reported from 30 June – 7 July. (WHO, 28 Jul 2017)

Cases reported in August is reduced to 14,962 when compared to 40,453 cases reported in July. The main reasons for the reduction is the integrated vector control measures; elimination of breeding sites, garbage collection, fogging etc. (IFRC, 6 Sep 2017)

A total of 155,715 suspected Dengue cases have been reported to the Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health (MoH) of Sri Lanka from all over the island, for the last 9 months of 2017 with over 320 deaths. (IFRC, 9 Oct 2017)

From January through November 2017, a total of 174,009 suspected cases of Dengue fever were reported to the Epidemiology Unit of Sri Lanka's Ministry of Health, with a peak observed in June and July. (Govt. Sri Lanka, 30 Nov 2017)

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