Sri Lanka is facing a significant dengue outbreak with confirmed deaths climbing to 72 and total cases exceeding 94,000 this year, with the Western Province accounting for more than half of all infections.
The dengue situation in Sri Lanka has escalated sharply, with the National Dengue Control Unit reporting 72 deaths and 94,292 confirmed cases recorded so far this year. The outbreak has intensified in recent months, with July witnessing a particularly sharp surge of nearly 30,000 cases, while the first week of August brought an additional 8,956 infections.
Geographically, the epidemic remains concentrated in the Western Province, which accounts for roughly 53 percent of all reported cases with 49,901 infections. The Southern Province has documented 13,779 cases, while the Central Province has recorded 8,551 cases. At the district level, Gampaha district leads with 20,081 cases, closely followed by Colombo with 18,709 cases. Other significantly affected areas include Kandy with 6,846 cases, Matara with 6,099 cases, and Kalutara with 6,093 cases.
Authorities have identified 76 Medical Officer of Health administrative areas that remain classified as high-risk zones for dengue transmission, indicating that the virus continues to spread across multiple regions despite control efforts. The sustained high caseload and rising mortality suggest the need for intensified public health interventions to contain the outbreak's progression.
