▲ Disinfection efforts to prevent the spread of the dengue virus
A variant of the dengue virus is spreading rapidly in the Indian Ocean island nation of Sri Lanka, resulting in 24 deaths so far this year.
According to reports from Xinhua News Agency and other sources on June 16, there have been 41,144 confirmed cases of dengue fever this year, with 24 of those patients succumbing to the disease.
The death toll includes four children.
The dengue virus is primarily transmitted by mosquitoes in tropical and subtropical regions.
Following an incubation period of 3 to 14 days, symptoms include high fever, severe headaches, eye pain, and muscle aches, and in severe cases, the illness can be fatal.
The current outbreak is attributed to climate change, as well as recent monsoon rains and flooding, which have created favorable conditions for the breeding of the mosquitoes that carry the virus.
Sri Lankan health authorities, noting the rapid spread of the variant dengue virus this year, launched a nationwide pest control program yesterday.
Sri Lanka experiences dozens of deaths from dengue fever infections every year.
Notably, in 2017, the country suffered its worst-ever dengue outbreak, which claimed the lives of approximately 400 people.
(Photo: Getty Images)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.