Sri Lanka: Western Province hit hardest by chikungunya outbreak

In Sri Lanka, the Western Province is the area with the highest number of chikungunya cases this year. According to official data, out of the 16,544 cases reported nationwide since January, 7,611 were in the Western Province alone. The highest number of cases within the province was in the Colombo District with 2,709 cases, followed by Gampaha with 2,453, and Kalutara with 567. Commenting on these numbers, Governor Hanif Yusuf said that provincial authorities are taking all measures to contain the spread of the disease, including fogging using drones. He added that several anti-Chikungunya programmes were carried out in the province during April as part of the response efforts, in coordination with the Colombo Regional Health Office.