Sri Lanka is witnessing a sharp rise in dengue cases as the prevailing rainy weather continues to fuel the spread of the disease, according to health authorities.

As of yesterday (28), 19,318 dengue cases had been reported during the month of June alone, pushing the total number of cases recorded so far this year to 53,159, according to the National Dengue Control Unit.

The latest report, released this morning (29) also confirmed that 31 deaths have been attributed to dengue since the beginning of the year.

A total of 124 Medical Officer of Health (MOH) divisions across the country had been identified as high-risk dengue zones.

While monthly dengue cases remained below 10,000 during the first five months of the year, the number of infections surged dramatically in June, with 19,318 cases reported within the first 28 days of the month.

The Western Province has recorded the highest number of infections, with 27,833 cases, accounting for 52.36% of the country's total dengue burden.

Health authorities have urged the general public to take immediate measures to prevent mosquito breeding by keeping their surroundings clean and eliminating stagnant water where mosquito larva and pupa can develop.

Meanwhile, the Bope-Poddala Pradeshiya Sabha had organized a community clean-up campaign as part of dengue prevention efforts.

In a separate initiative, nearly 100 officers from the Mount Lavinia Police Headquarters participated in a clean-up campaign yesterday under the supervision of Chief Inspector Sumedha Wimalagunaratne to help curb the spread of dengue.