Sri Lanka faces severe dengue outbreak with over 91,000 cases

Sri Lanka is facing a severe dengue outbreak, with the National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU) reporting that confirmed cases have surpassed 91,000. The surge has resulted in at least 68 deaths so far this year, with a significant spike in infections recorded during July.

To combat the spread, the Sri Lankan military has been deployed to assist health authorities. The armed forces are utilizing air force drones to scan neighborhoods for stagnant water on rooftops and in construction sites, while military and police officers conduct ground-level inspections of homes and schools. This response comes as hospitals face heavy strain, including a surge of 18,000 new cases in the first two weeks of July alone.

Health officials, including NDCU Director Kapila Kannangara, have warned that immunity to one of the virus’s four strains does not protect against others, and reinfection can lead to more serious illness. The international community has offered support, with the U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka announcing a new Public Health Pest Control and Vector-Borne Disease Response program in partnership with the Ministry of Health.