The number of dengue patients rose to 12,800 and the number of those who died reached 155. The Health Ministry spokesman said yesterday (29), relief in the form of a consignment of bacteria known to destroy dengue mosquito breeding from the Cuban Government is expected soon.

The bacterium known as ‘Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti)’ had been used around two years ago in Polgahawela and Kurunegala to control mosquito larvae. But people must remember that spraying Bti alone will not be adequate to control dengue. They would have to continue with their cleaning programmes, the spokesman cautioned.

Meanwhile the Medical Laboratory Technologists (MLTs) deployed by the Health Ministry to screen internally displaced persons (IDPs) for sexually transmitted diseases and malaria, have discovered neither of the two diseases was present in the 400 persons screened by them.