COLOMBO, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's Ministry of Health on Thursday launched a lightning dengue eradication program as the number of dengue patients rose to over 18,000 with 24 people reported dead.
According to the Ministry of Health, the army, police and health officials will be deployed from Thursday to take action against dengue breeding grounds.
Measures will be taken to eliminate dengue mosquito breeding grounds and file legal action against the owners of property where dengue mosquito breeding grounds are found.
The Ministry of Health said that 18,735 patients have contracted dengue around the country so far this year while 24 people have died.
So far 6,009 individuals have been identified as having dengue in the capital Colombo, the Health Ministry said.
The cities of Colombo, Kolonnawa, Kaduwela, Dehiwala and Mount Lavinia in the western province have been identified as the areas most affected by the spread of dengue.
