Sri Lanka dengue fever cases approach 90,000 with 65 deaths

Sri Lanka is experiencing a significant surge in dengue fever infections, with nearly 90,000 reported cases and 65 deaths recorded as of early August. The outbreak saw a sharp escalation mid-year, particularly in June and July, which recorded 21,533 and 29,973 cases respectively.

The Western Province has emerged as the primary hotspot, accounting for over half of the national total with 47,448 infections. Gampaha district has reported the highest number of cases at 19,067, followed by Colombo with 14,967. Other high-incidence areas include Kandy, Matara, and Kalutara.

Health authorities, including the National Dengue Control Unit, are urging the public to eliminate stagnant water to prevent the breeding of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Officials have warned that the mounting caseload is placing considerable strain on the healthcare system and emphasized that early medical intervention is critical to prevent the disease from progressing to fatal stages.