The National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU) issued red alerts for 11 districts as the trend in dengue cases are gradually increasing with the onset of the monsoon season. In April, the total number of cases reported islandwide stood at 413, whereas in the first week of May, 96 cases have been reported islandwide. The districts recognised to have the highest numbers of cases reported for the period of 1 January to 8 May are Colombo (2,722 cases), Gampaha (1,612), Batticaloa (2,069), Trincomalee (2,152), Kandy (1,117), Jaffna (1,755), Kalutara (971), Galle (953), Kalmunai (829), Kurunegala (648), and Rathnapura (593). Due to curfew being imposed over an extended period of time, many potential mosquito breeding sites have been left unattended and the inter-monsoon rains would have already created a nurturing environment for the mosquitoes to breed. The Ministry of Health recently issued directives to immediately take measures to clear such areas, especially constructions sites and fisheries vessels. Furthermore, the public has been requested to keep their surrounding environments clean to ensure there is no room for the dengue vector to breed. Meanwhile, the NDCU stated that a dengue eradication programme is to be launched in the month of June with the assistance of the area dengue control units affiliated to every divisional secretariat, municipal council, and urban council across the country.