Sri Lanka is experiencing a worsening dengue outbreak, with health authorities reporting more than 44,000 cases so far this year. Multiple outlets say the outbreak is intensifying during the country’s monsoon period, when dengue transmission typically increases. Authorities attribute the surge to a combination of seasonal conditions and longer-term factors, including unplanned urbanization that can increase mosquito breeding sites. One report also links worsening conditions to damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah, which struck the country in late November, saying infrastructure impacts may have contributed to the increase in cases.
The reports also indicate that deaths have been recorded during the outbreak, with one outlet citing 28 fatalities so far in 2025. Officials warn that the number of infections is expected to continue rising for at least the next two weeks before beginning to ease. Authorities further caution that the outbreak could approach levels seen during the 2019 dengue surge, when Sri Lanka recorded more than 105,000 infections. The overall picture across outlets is that the outbreak remains active and rising, with continued public health monitoring and response underway.
