Health Ministry Reports 39,481 ARI Cases in Sep 2023

The Ministry of Health reported alarming spikes in communicable diseases in 2023, with June showing 569 Dengue Fever cases, August peaking at a record 10,451 Acute Gastroenteritis (AGE) cases, and September recording the highest number of Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) cases at 39,481.

The onset of the year saw a considerable surge in Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) cases, with January reporting 29,307 cases, a trend that persisted into February with 30,628 cases. Dengue Fever, a recurring health concern, commenced with 238 cases in January but experienced a decline in February, registering 155 cases.

Acute Gastroenteritis (AGE) also made a significant presence early in the year, with 3,502 cases in January, escalating to 4,357 cases in February.

March witnessed slight fluctuations in the numbers, as ARI cases increased to 37,969, indicating a persistent challenge in controlling respiratory infections. Dengue Fever cases remained relatively stable at 228, while AGE cases slightly decreased to 4,042.

April displayed a reduction in ARI cases to 29,970, but Dengue Fever cases peaked at 330, marking the highest until June. AGE cases showed a decline to 3,044.

May witnessed a substantial decrease in ARI cases to 21,327, suggesting a downward trend as the year progressed. However, Dengue Fever cases remained a concern with 268 reported cases, and AGE cases also decreased to 2,778.

June marked a significant and concerning outbreak of Dengue Fever, with a total of 569 cases reported. This period also saw 25,749 instances of ARI and 3,328 cases of AGE.

July recorded 304 cases of Dengue Fever, along with 23,206 instances of ARI and 7,384 cases of AGE.

August witnessed a dramatic rise in AGE cases, reaching a peak at 10,451. Concurrently, there were 28,718 ARI cases and 327 Dengue Fever cases.

September presented the highest recorded cases of ARI for the year, totaling 39,481. This month also witnessed 288 Dengue Fever cases and 7,160 AGE cases.

October recorded 306 cases of Dengue Fever, accompanied by 35,154 instances of ARI and 9,743 cases of AGE.

November marked a decrease in AGE cases, with figures dropping to 5,063. There were 30,410 ARI cases and 210 Dengue Fever cases during this period. 

These statistics underscore the dynamic nature of communicable diseases throughout the year, emphasising the need for ongoing efforts in disease prevention and control.