Colombo: Sri Lanka has stepped up its fight against a fast spreading dengue outbreak by deploying air force drones and military personnel to identify mosquito breeding grounds, as the country records its highest number of infections in years. Health authorities say the outbreak has become one of the most serious public health challenges since the devastating dengue epidemic of 2017, prompting an aggressive nationwide response.
According to Sri Lanka's National Dengue Control Unit, more than 76,000 dengue cases have been reported across the island since the beginning of 2026, with at least 53 people losing their lives. The situation has worsened rapidly during July, with over 18,000 new infections recorded in just the first two weeks of the month. June alone saw more than 21,500 cases, more than double the number reported in May, highlighting the speed at which the disease is spreading.
To contain the outbreak, the Sri Lanka Air Force has begun using drones equipped with cameras to detect stagnant water on rooftops, abandoned buildings and other locations that are difficult to inspect from the ground. Officials say these hidden pools of water provide ideal breeding places for Aedes mosquitoes, which spread dengue.
The military has also joined the public health campaign by sending soldiers to inspect homes, schools, construction sites, religious institutions and public buildings. Police officers are assisting health workers during inspections, while authorities have intensified efforts to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds throughout the country.
Health officials say nearly 11,000 mosquito breeding sites have already been cleared during the current campaign. More than 4,000 fines have also been imposed on property owners and institutions where mosquito breeding was detected, as authorities seek to enforce public health regulations more strictly.
Medical experts believe the outbreak has become more severe because around 75 percent of reported infections are linked to the DENV 2 strain of the virus. This strain is known to cause more serious illness and has been associated with larger outbreaks in the past. Doctors say hospitals are treating a growing number of patients with severe symptoms and are closely monitoring those who develop complications.
The outbreak has also been linked to the impact of Cyclone Ditwah, which struck Sri Lanka in late November 2025. Heavy rainfall and widespread flooding left behind large amounts of stagnant water, creating favourable conditions for mosquito breeding. The cyclone also damaged infrastructure and disrupted public health services, making disease control more difficult in several parts of the country.
Hospitals across Sri Lanka are now operating under increased pressure as patient numbers continue to rise. Many healthcare facilities have expanded bed capacity, converted additional wards for dengue patients and increased working hours for medical staff. Doctors are encouraging people with mild symptoms to recover at home under medical advice so that hospital resources can be reserved for patients with severe illness.
Negombo District General Hospital is among the facilities seeing a sharp increase in admissions. Hospital officials said they had treated nearly 1,800 dengue patients in less than two months, compared with about 1,050 during the same period last year. Similar increases have been reported at hospitals in several other districts.
Health authorities are also examining the possibility of introducing a dengue vaccine as part of future prevention efforts. However, infectious disease specialists caution that vaccines alone may not provide complete protection because several different dengue virus strains continue to circulate in the country. They stress that eliminating mosquito breeding sites remains the most effective way to reduce infections.
Officials expect the number of cases to begin declining in August as weather conditions become less favourable for mosquito breeding. However, they have warned that infections could rise again with the arrival of the second monsoon season later this year if preventive measures are not maintained.
Sri Lanka experienced its worst dengue epidemic in 2017, when more than 186,000 infections and around 440 deaths were reported. Although this year's outbreak has not yet reached those levels, health experts say the current surge is the most serious in nearly a decade and are urging the public to remain vigilant by removing stagnant water around homes, using mosquito protection and seeking early medical treatment if symptoms develop.