As of the 23rd, Sri Lanka has reported 47,530 cases of dengue fever this year, with 29 deaths. On the 21st alone, new daily cases topped one thousand, reaching 1,069.
Kanangara, acting director of Sri Lanka’s National Dengue Prevention Unit, stated that the recent surge in dengue infections has led to a significant increase in hospital visits, placing immense pressure on the healthcare system.
Earlier, Sri Lanka’s Deputy Minister of Health, Wijemuni, pointed out that one of the reasons for the recent rapid rise in dengue cases is the mutation of the virus strain.
He said that compared with the strains previously detected during dengue outbreaks in the country, the current circulating strain is more transmissible.
Sri Lanka has launched nationwide dengue prevention campaigns several times in June, aiming to eliminate mosquitoes in areas with a high risk of dengue infection. Health authorities urged the public to actively clear standing water in and around their homes to prevent mosquito breeding.