Sri Lanka dengue outbreak leads to US military health partnership

Sri Lanka is battling a severe dengue outbreak in 2026, with confirmed cases surpassing 81,000 and at least 61 deaths. Health officials are urging communities to eliminate mosquito breeding sites and seek prompt medical care, while the government expands public awareness and fogging operations.

In response, the U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka has launched a Public Health Pest Control and Vector‑Borne Disease Response program with the Sri Lanka Ministry of Health and the National Dengue Control Unit. Funded through the U.S. Department of Defense’s Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster, and Civic Aid program, the initiative brings experts from U.S. Army Pacific and the 18th Theater Medical Command to share expertise in preventive medicine, disease surveillance, entomology and integrated vector management, aiming to strengthen Sri Lanka’s capacity to prevent, detect and respond to dengue for years to come.