Schools record highest rate of dengue mosquito breeding sites

Schools recorded the highest proportion of dengue mosquito breeding sites found during inspections conducted across Sri Lanka in the first six months of the year, according to data from the National Dengue Control Unit.

Authorities inspected 250,477 premises between January and June and found dengue mosquito larvae in 42.5 per cent of the school premises examined.

Inspectors also detected mosquito larvae in 38.4 per cent of factories, 28.1 per cent of government institutions, 25.9 per cent of religious sites and 9.2 per cent of homes inspected.

Sri Lanka had recorded 74,478 dengue cases by 17 July, according to the National Dengue Control Unit.

Of these, 19,100 cases were reported during the first 17 days of July alone.

The Western Province continued to record the highest number of dengue patients, with Gampaha District reporting 15,596 cases.

The dengue death toll rose to 53 after authorities recorded three deaths within the previous 24 hours.