Sri Lanka deploys military and drones to combat dengue surge

Sri Lanka is facing one of its worst dengue fever outbreaks in years, with more than 48,000 confirmed infections and daily hospital admissions exceeding 1,000. The disease has claimed 29 lives so far and is straining the nation’s health system, which is still recovering from economic hardship and recent energy shortages.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake authorized the deployment of army, navy and air‑force personnel, and the use of military drones to scan rooftops and identify mosquito breeding sites across Colombo and other hotspots. A three‑day nationwide prevention drive was launched, requiring property owners to clear breeding grounds under penalty of fines. Health officials also plan to expand a pilot program that releases Wolbachia‑infected mosquitoes, a biological method shown to suppress dengue transmission in other countries.