Minor outbreaks of chikungunya and dengue reported
An increase in the incidence of chikungunya has been reported in certain pockets in the Ratnapura district and the Epidemiology Unit of the Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry has taken precautionary measures to prevent an epidemic, the chief government epidemiologist Dr. Nihal Abeysingha said yesterday. "We have found seven chikungunya cases out of 14 samples tested in Eratna in the Ratnapura district. The patients have been treated at the OPD and there is no cause for panic as the disease is not life-threatening,' he said.