By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

The number of dengue fever cases reported in Sri Lanka has taken a upward direction in recent months, already making 2019 the worst dengue year this decade.

Image/Robert Herriman

During the first eleven months of 2019, Sri Lanka health officials have reported 78,429 dengue fever cases with Colombo (16,642) and Gampaha (12,412) reporting the most cases.

What is troubling is the surge in cases the past two months. The number of cases reported in September was 7,299; however that number increased to 11,383 in October and was doubled in November as officials saw 14,921 cases.

During all of last year, Sri Lanka reported 51,659 dengue cases. In this decade, only in 2017 did Sri Lanka see more cases than this year–this was the massive epidermic that accounted for 186,101 cases.

The latest officials death toll from dengue this year stands at 80; however, this number is three weeks old.

Sri Lanka is not alone in reporting increases in dengue this year–Bangladesh, the Philippines, Mexico and countries from Central and South America have all reported dramatic increases in 2019.

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