Modeling the dengue risk in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Dengue fever is a viral infection that spreads from infected mosquitoes to humans. This is a leading cause for most of the deaths in the tropical and subtropical areas around the globe. Dengue virus spread has risen largely in urban and semi-urban areas. This has become a main public health concern problem in the world. Dengue virus was discovered in early 1950s in Sri Lanka. Country experienced several outbreaks of dengue until the disease became endemic in 1989. In the early stages dengue was considered as a sporadic disease. Most of the dengue patients were found in Colombo. The human population was high in Colombo at that time. The number of infected patients exponentially increased in the year 1989. This happens in a severe form. The highest incident was informed in the year 2017. It was reported as 186,101 patients and 440 deaths [3]. The majority of reported from Colombo and Gampaha districts [3]. Gampaha is another district with a higher human population. Now, dengue is one of the noticeable among epidemic diseases in find in children and adults admitted to hospitals. Rapid urbanization is one of the key reasons that worsens dengue disease. Dengue has become significantly noticeable in other districts in Sri Lanka.