The National Dengue Control Programme will launch a Dengue Control Week from Monday next week.

The months of October to December and May to July have been identified as peak months of the fever.

The programme will have special emphasis on controlling of breeding places.

"We request people to inspect their homes and surroundings for dengue mosquito breeding sites and destroy them", the National Programme Coordinator Dr. Lakshmi De Silva urged.

"We need a joint effort to defeat this menace because the mosquito that spreads the fever breeds in clean water mainly in houses and its surroundings", she explained.

"As it is not easy to make a quick behavioural change, continuous efforts are needed to educate the public", Dr. De Silva said. It is important to have enhanced community participation, she stressed.

Twelve districts and 48 MOH divisions have been identified as high risk areas. Most cases were reported from Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kandy and Kurunegala accounting to 74 percent of the total cases.

A five year national plan of action for prevention and control of dengue fever was launched in 2005.