Sri Lankan health officials have issued a warning to the public about the dangers of treating chikungunya without proper medical diagnosis, noting that such treatment could be life-threatening for dengue patients.
With both diseases spreading rapidly due to the ongoing rainy season, authorities are urging people to seek medical attention early.
The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) has reported that over 17,000 dengue cases have been recorded so far this year. Dr. Kalukapuarachchi noted that more than 50 percent of the country’s dengue cases have been reported from the Western Province.
Chief Medical Officer of Health at the CMC, Dr. Geethika Ratnawardena, stated that 1,800 of these cases were identified within the CMC area. She also reported that 70,000 houses deemed at risk have been inspected, and legal action has been taken against 471 households that failed to comply with dengue prevention measures.
