Morning Briefing

"Sri Lanka is making progress in the battle against mosquito-borne dengue fever, say health officials," IRIN reports. According to the health ministry, 26,722 dengue cases were reported in 2011, down from 34,105 cases in 2010, and the number of dengue-related deaths dropped from 246 to 172, IRIN notes. Officials credit the establishment in May 2010 of an "anti-dengue Presidential Task Force -- involving the ministries of health, defense, the environment, education, and local government, and headed by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa" -- for the drop in cases, IRIN writes. The agencies worked together to launch widespread education campaigns, "clea[n] up areas suspected of being mosquito breeding grounds," and impose fines for illegal dumping, according to the news agency (12/29).