The National Dengue Control Division has stated that the spread of dengue fever in Sri Lanka has increased significantly this year. According to data up to midnight yesterday, Saturday (04), a total of 59,638 dengue patients have been identified across the country so far, with 39 deaths recorded. This brings the current mortality rate to 0.07%. Notably, 4,251 patients were registered in the first four days of July alone; while this is lower than the 21,546 patients recorded in June, it remains a matter of concern. Provincially, the Western Province is the most severely affected with 31,249 patients, including 12,158 in the Colombo district and 11,925 in Gampaha. Considering the risk of rapid dengue transmission, 142 Medical Officer of Health (MOH) divisions across the country have now been identified as high-risk zones.