The National Dengue Control Unit reports that dengue cases in Sri Lanka have continued to rise, with over 91,000 infections documented so far in 2024 and 68 deaths attributed to the disease.
Sri Lanka is experiencing a significant surge in dengue fever cases, with the National Dengue Control Unit reporting a cumulative total of 91,346 infections recorded from the beginning of the year through August 13th. The outbreak has resulted in 68 deaths during the same period, underscoring the severity of the public health challenge facing the island nation.
The rate of new infections has accelerated in recent weeks. July emerged as the most critical month to date, accounting for 29,968 cases, while the first 13 days of August alone registered 6,004 cases. This rapid accumulation suggests the outbreak is intensifying rather than subsiding as the year progresses.
Geographically, the burden of dengue infections remains heavily concentrated in certain regions. The Western Province has been the hardest hit, accounting for 48,383 cases—more than half of all reported infections nationally. The Southern Province follows with 13,479 cases, while the Central Province has documented 8,160 cases. The disparity in regional distribution suggests that transmission patterns may be influenced by varying environmental and demographic conditions across different parts of the country.
