Sri Lanka is battling its worst dengue outbreak in nearly a decade, with authorities deploying the military to help contain the spread of the mosquito-borne disease as infections continue to rise.
Since January, the country has recorded 76,044 dengue cases and 53 deaths, according to health authorities. The outbreak is approaching the scale of the 2017 epidemic, when more than 100,000 infections were reported.
The Sri Lankan Air Force has deployed drones to identify stagnant water on rooftops and other mosquito breeding sites, while military personnel and police are assisting health officials in inspecting homes, schools and construction sites.
Hospitals have expanded capacity by adding beds, converting wards and increasing working hours for medical staff to cope with a surge of more than 18,000 cases in the first two weeks of July.
Health officials said 21,537 infections were recorded in June, more than double the number reported in May. Symptoms of dengue typically include high fever, severe body aches and loss of appetite.
Consultant physician Lalindra Dias, based in Negombo, one of the worst-affected areas north of Colombo, said hospitals were struggling to manage the rapid increase in patients.
"It's challenging for the doctors because it's a rapid increase in patients," Dias said.
His hospital has treated nearly 1,800 dengue patients since June, up from around 1,050 during the same period in 2025.
Authorities launched a nationwide clean-up campaign on 16 July, targeting homes, schools, religious institutions and other sites where mosquitoes breed.
The Health Ministry said nearly 11,000 mosquito breeding sites had been cleared this month, while fines were issued to more than 4,000 premises found to harbour breeding grounds.
Officials expect cases to decline as the current monsoon weakens in August but warn infections could rise again with the return of seasonal rains later in the year.
Sri Lanka has not yet introduced a dengue vaccine, although authorities say they are considering the option as experts continue to assess its effectiveness against multiple circulating strains.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said it had struck U.S.-linked military sites in Kuwait and Bahrain, claiming damage to air defences and radar sys...
Iran is increasingly relying on its northern ports for imports, with officials saying more than 30% of goods now enter the country via Russia and the ...
Britain's new Prime Minister Andy Burnham has chaired his first Cabinet meeting, pledging to make the cost of living his government's central priority...
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.
Twelve people have died following a fire at a care home for elderly residents in Anguruwatota, Sri Lanka, on Thursday. Authorities are investigating the cause of the blaze, which also left several people injured.
Thousands of people gathered across Colombo on Saturday night (30 May) as Sri Lanka's capital came alive with light and colour for Vesak, one of the most important festivals in the Buddhist calendar.
Iranian sailors who survived a U.S. submarine strike in the Indian Ocean were recovering at a hospital in the Sri Lankan port city of Galle, authorities said on Thursday (5 March), a day after at least 87 were killed in the attack.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 20th July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
At least six people were killed and 21 others injured after two earthquakes struck Peru's central Junín region, destroying dozens of homes and triggering a major emergency response.
Kylian Mbappé has become the first player to win the FIFA World Cup Golden Boot on more than one occasion. The French forward won the award presented to the top goalscorer of the tournament for the second time, despite France being knocked out in the semi-finals.
Overnight U.S. strikes caused blackouts in southwestern Iran and hit the northwestern city of Tabriz for the first time. Separately, a U.S. soldier died in northern Iraq during a controlled detonation of an unexploded Iranian drone.
Spain are world champions for the second time after Ferran Torres' extra-time winner secured a 1-0 victory over Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final at New York New Jersey Stadium.
Britain's new Prime Minister Andy Burnham has chaired his first Cabinet meeting, pledging to make the cost of living his government's central priority while signalling a broader effort to restore confidence in Britain's government and strengthen its international standing.
Iran is increasingly relying on its northern ports for imports, with officials saying more than 30% of goods now enter the country via Russia and the Caspian Sea rather than through the Indian Ocean.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier have discussed regional developments, transport connectivity, energy cooperation and the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace process during talks in Berlin.
Russian strikes hit multiple locations across Ukraine, setting a large hardware store ablaze in the northeastern city of Sumy and damaging a residential building in the country's east, as fighting between the two sides continued to intensify.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for setting up a foolproof public examination system in the country on Tuesday, a day after supporters of the youth-led "cockroach" movement and police clashed as they marched on parliament to protest against question paper leaks.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment