COLOMBO, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The threat of dengue epidemic is looming in Sri Lanka with nearly 3,500 dengue patients by May 17 this year, the largest number during this period in its history, the official Daily News reported Tuesday.

    "The increase in the number of patients has doubled compared to the number reported during the corresponding period last year," the newspaper quoted Epidemiology Department Chief Epidemiologist Nihal Abeysinghe as saying.

    Abeysinghe said that if no remedial action is taken on time, there was every possibility of a serious outbreak of the epidemic in the near future.

    "The number of dengue patients reported in the corresponding period in 2004, the year which had the highest number of patients was 2,129. As the figures are worse this year, we might have an all time high number of patients this year," Abeysinghe said.

    According to epidemiological unit statistics, the number of patients reported in 2004 was 15,477 with 88 deaths.

    The country has seen the rapid spread of the disease in the monsoon season, specially in May, June and July. Enditem