The number of suspected cases of dengue in different parts of Sri Lanka has crossed 13,479, even as the government issued a number of directives to the health and civic authorities to check the spread of the disease, officials said in Colombo.

The Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry confirmed that so far 152 people have died of dengue, while several were undergoing treatment at various private and government hospitals in the island nation.

The officials added that the maximum number of deaths have been reported from Gampaha (28) and Kandy (25).

The government had asked the health authorities to gather information about dengue patients in different parts of the country and take rapid action to control the state of affairs.

Meanwhile, with a view to combat the fast spreading dengue epidemic, Cuba has airlifted a stock of BTI (Bacillus Thuringenesis Israelensis). BTI is helpful in killing a variety of species of mosquitoes, fungus gnats, and blackflies, while having almost no effect on other organisms.

Apart from this, the government of Cuba has also decided to send two epidemiologists to help the dengue control programme.

It should be noted here that Sri Lanka is a dengue endemic nation.