Dengue-related deaths in Sri Lanka have risen to 69 so far this year, with the total number of reported cases climbing to 92,854, according to the National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU).
The figures put the case fatality rate at 0.07%. The NDCU said the numbers underline the continuing health burden posed by the mosquito-borne disease, and that 96 Medical Officer of Health areas across the country have been identified as high-risk.
Case numbers have fluctuated sharply through the year. July was by far the worst month, with 29,964 infections recorded, followed by June with 21,533. Monthly totals earlier in the year were substantially lower: 7,866 in January, 5,721 in February, 6,013 in March, 5,651 in April and 8,590 in May. A further 7,516 cases have been reported in August to date.
The outbreak remains concentrated in the western corridor. Gampaha District has recorded the highest caseload at 19,778 infections, or 21.30% of the national total, followed by Colombo with 18,433 cases (19.85%). Kandy is third with 6,695 cases, accounting for 7.21%.
Daily Mirror’s dengue tracker, which draws on NDCU data, recorded 92,595 cumulative cases as of late on August 17 and 314 new cases that day — consistent with the trajectory reflected in the latest figures.
Health authorities have run repeated source-reduction and inspection drives through the year. Officials reported earlier this month that daily case numbers had fallen from roughly 1,300 to between 350 and 400 following those control measures.
Update — August 20
The NDCU’s figures moved again the following day. Daily Mirror reported that the death toll had passed 70, reaching 71, with 93,115 cases recorded nationally so far this year — 7,777 of them in August alone.
The district ranking was unchanged: Gampaha 19,825 cases, Colombo 18,475, Kandy 6,726, Matara 6,066 and Kalutara 6,013.
The revised numbers coincided with two developments in the dengue response. The Health Ministry announced a community empowerment pilot project for Colombo District MOH areas, launching Friday at Boralesgamuwa. On the same day, the Public Health Inspectors’ Union — whose members carry out most routine larval inspection work — withdrew from all dengue control duties in a dispute over a transfer at the airport health office.
