Sri Lanka doubles dengue drive as deaths climb to 49

Sri Lanka is intensifying its efforts to control a deadly dengue fever outbreak, with a military-backed drive now set to double its personnel.

Starting July 16, medical staff and security forces will be deployed in greater numbers to combat the mosquito-borne illness. The focus will be on the capital, Colombo, and two neighboring districts, identified as the most severely affected areas.

"We are launching a new drive from tomorrow to expand into more areas with additional staff and security personnel," said Kapila Kannangara, head of the National Dengue Control Unit. The country has already deployed the military since June to identify and destroy mosquito breeding sites.

Official data reveals a stark increase in infections, with over 61,057 people contracting dengue in the first six months of 2026. This figure more than doubles the 30,060 infections recorded during the same period in the previous year. July alone has seen over 15,000 new cases.

Despite the alarming numbers, 2026 figures remain lower than the record 186,000 cases and 440 deaths seen in 2017. Health officials emphasize the urgency of controlling the spread to prevent hospitals from becoming overwhelmed. The Aedes mosquito, responsible for transmitting dengue, breeds in stagnant water, a problem exacerbated by climate change, according to the World Health Organization.

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We are launching a new drive from tomorrow to expand into more areas with additional staff and security personnel.