National Mosquito Eradication Week will begin on Tuesday, March 29.

The Ministry of Health stated that the objective of this initiative is to destroy Dengue mosquito breeding grounds before the start of the monsoon season.

Twelve deaths have been reported due to the Dengue as of this year, while 12,224 individuals have been diagnosed with Dengue. Around 51.71% of Dengue patients have been reported from the Western Province.

National Mosquito Eradication Week will be a joint venture by the Ministry of Health, the National Dengue Eradication Programme, the Presidential Task Force on Dengue, the tri forces and police.

The Ministry of Health went on to note that this programme will be implemented in ten districts – with thirty high risk zones throughout the week. This programme will also focus on 100 high risk zones for four days and 204 low risk zones in two days

The programme will thu be implemented in the districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Ratnapura, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Galle, Matara, Jaffna, Mannar and Trincomalee.

The initiative will be carried out by 3000 teams across the country, with 5 members in each team.

Director of the Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health, Dr Paba Palihawadana stated that the eradication programme will continue till April 4.