COLOMBO, July 13 (Xinhua) -- Over 27,000 people have been infected with dengue from January to July this year with capital Colombo reporting the highest number of infected patients, statistics from the Epidemiology Unit showed here Friday.

So far in July, 1,309 patients have been diagnosed with dengue from across the island while 5,114 patients were reported last month.

Some of the other worst affected districts were the Central Hills of Kandy and Ratnapura, in the south central part of the island country.

The National Dengue Control Unit on Thursday warned there was an increase in the number of dengue patients this year due to the active South West monsoon rains.

As a result, the National Dengue Control Unit said it had launched a special two-day programme, starting Friday, to eradicate dengue breeding grounds in eight districts, including the north and east, which were identified as the most vulnerable districts.

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

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 times.