COLOMBO, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- The number of patients suffering from dengue in Sri Lanka has risen to over 34,000 so far this year, with capital Colombo reporting the highest number of infected patients, statistics from the Epidemiology Unit showed here Monday.

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

Some of the other worst affected districts were the Central Hills of Kandy and Gampaha, in the outskirts of Colombo.

Sri Lanka's northern district has also reported a rise in the number of dengue infected patients so far this month, with over 109 patients reported.

The National Dengue Control Unit last month 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 special programs to eradicate dengue breeding grounds in several 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.