Sri Lanka is experiencing one of its worst dengue fever outbreaks in recent years, with more than 44,000 cases and 28 deaths recorded since January, according to health officials. The surge in infections is placing significant pressure on public hospitals across the country.
Data from Sri Lanka’s National Dengue Control Unit show a sharp rise in infections, increasing from 5,651 cases in April to 10,638 in the first two weeks of June alone.
Health authorities say the trend began to worsen after Cyclone Ditwah struck the island in late November, leaving widespread debris that created ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes.
Officials say a combination of unplanned urbanisation and storm damage has significantly increased mosquito populations.
Dr Prashila Samaraweera, a consultant community physician and spokesperson for the National Dengue Control Unit, said environmental conditions following the cyclone had contributed directly to the outbreak.
She noted that stagnant water and accumulated debris had led to higher mosquito breeding indices, sustaining transmission across affected regions.
Sri Lanka’s Health Ministry has warned that a continued rise in infections could place severe strain on public hospitals, particularly in urban centres.
Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said authorities were closely monitoring capacity levels as patient admissions continued to increase.
More than half of all reported cases are concentrated in the western region, including nearly 9,500 infections in the commercial capital, Colombo, alone. Eight other districts have each recorded more than 2,000 cases.
The outbreak has so far resulted in 28 deaths, including five children, highlighting the severity of the current wave.
Officials warn that infection levels could continue to rise for at least another two weeks before stabilising, depending on weather conditions and mosquito-control efforts.
Authorities caution that the current trajectory could approach the scale of Sri Lanka’s major 2019 outbreak, when more than 105,000 dengue cases were recorded nationwide.
Health officials have launched intensified clean-up campaigns targeting schools, homes, construction sites and public buildings in an effort to reduce mosquito breeding grounds.
The nationwide programme is expected to continue until next Monday as part of emergency containment measures.
New strikes were reported by Iranian media overnight, including attacks near Iran's only functioning nuclear power plant around the port city of Bus...
This is the second of four articles in AnewZ's series examining how conservationists are working to protect and repair damage done to the Aral Sea wh...
Israel's decision to recognise the so-called Armenian genocide has triggered diplomatic tensions with Azerbaijan, one of its closest strategic partner...
New strikes were reported by Iranian media overnight, including attacks near Iran's only functioning nuclear power plant around the port city of Bushehr. A U.S. official said that Washington was still committed to finding a resolution with Tehran and that technical talks were continuing.
Israel's decision to recognise the so-called Armenian genocide has triggered diplomatic tensions with Azerbaijan, one of its closest strategic partners.
Andy Burnham is on the brink of becoming Labour leader and prime minister after securing the overwhelming backing of Labour MPs in the first round of leadership nominations.
China has successfully tested an experimental rocket recovery system using a net attached to an offshore platform, marking a major step in its efforts to develop reusable rockets and compete with U.S. space technology.
It has been a punishing week for large parts of China, and forecasters warn the worst may not be over. After Typhoon Maysak left a trail of destruction and at least 23 people dead, Super Typhoon Bavi is now threatening the country's eastern coast.
At least 12 people have been killed in forest fires in Almeria in southern Spain, Andalucía’s emergency agency has said, as firefighters continue efforts to put out the blaze.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the memorandum of understanding signed with Iran to end the conflict was "over", adding he did not want to engage with Tehran, calling the Iranian leadership "sick people".
The death toll from Venezuela's twin earthquakes has risen to 3,811, according to figures released by National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez on Wednesday.
The U.S. military said on Wednesday it launched fresh strikes on Iran to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to shipping, triggering Iranian attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain in the latest escalation to derail efforts to end the war.
China's technology sector is producing billion-dollar startups at its fastest pace in nearly five years, with artificial intelligence and robotics driving a new wave of investment that is reshaping the country's innovation economy.
Andy Burnham is on the brink of becoming Labour leader and prime minister after securing the overwhelming backing of Labour MPs in the first round of leadership nominations.
The 4th Shusha Global Media Forum will bring together nearly 160 media leaders, experts and officials from 54 countries in Azerbaijan's historic city of Shusha on 13-14 July, to discuss journalism’s role in peacebuilding, restoring public trust and tackling challenges.
Ukraine and the United States have reached a political agreement on licences to produce Patriot missile interceptors in Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Thursday.
The French region of Corsica has cleared the latest hurdle to pave the way toward gaining powers to pass its own laws in housing, local economy and culture, after France’s National Assembly approved a bill granting the Mediterranean island unique autonomous status within the country.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment