Dengue on the rise

The National Dengue Control Unit has announced that there have been 25,082 cases of dengue reported across Sri Lanka from January 1, 2026, which has raised ongoing concerns about the disease's spread. Dr. Prashila Samarawickrama, a Community Health Specialist at the unit, noted that the highest number of infections has been found in the districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Matara, Galle, Ratnapura, and Kalutara, including the Colombo Municipal Council area. So far this year, there have been 12 deaths linked to dengue. Dr. Samarawickrama encouraged people to get medical help from a government hospital doctor if their fever lasts more than two days to see if it might be dengue. She warned against self-medicating and advised that only paracetamol should be taken to manage fever until a doctor is consulted. Additionally, she recommended using mosquito repellents and taking other steps to avoid mosquito bites, stressing the need for community awareness to help control dengue's spread.