Colombo, Aug 24 (IANS): Sri Lankan health authorities on Friday said 41 people had died and over 36,000 were infected by dengue across the island nation this year.

So far in August, 1,075 patients have been diagnosed with dengue across the island while 6,221 patients were reported last month, reports Xinhua news agency.

According to the authorities, the highest number of dengue cases this year totalling 6,937 had been reported from capital Colombo while the second highest number of 4,156 was reported from the eastern district of Batticaloa.

The third highest number of 3,619 was reported from Gampaha, on the outskirts of Colombo.

The National Dengue Control Unit last month warned there was an increase in the number of patients this year due to the active southwest monsoon rains.

As a result, the National Dengue Control Unit said it had launched special programmes to eradicate dengue breeding grounds in several districts, including the north and east, which were identified as the most vulnerable districts.

People were urged to seek immediate medical attention if they suffered from high fever, uncontrolled vomiting, abdominal pain, dizziness.

Over 300 people were killed and more than 136,000 infected by the dengue epidemic last year in one of the country's worst ever outbreaks of the disease in recent years.