Country: Sri Lanka Source: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Please refer to the attached file. Description of the Event Date when the trigger was met 02-06-2026 What happened, where and when? Dengue cases have been on the rise in the country since the beginning of the year. Following a massive seasonal surge triggered by heavy rains in mid-May 2026, the epidemic trajectory accelerated significantly. Driven by the onset of the southwest monsoon and severe local flooding, the island-wide total quickly advanced from 25,082 cases in early May to more than 35,000 cases by the first week of June, marking an approximate 30% increase compared to the corresponding period of the previous year (as noted by reports via Dengue Visual Atlas). A higher number of cases is recorded in the Western, Southern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, and Central provinces, especially in the Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kandy, Galle, Matara, and Ratnapura districts. The National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU) reported more than 8,600 new cases of dengue virus within the month of May 2026 alone, raising grave concerns about a potential epidemic. The NDCU also revealed that environmental conditions following high rainfall and major urban flooding are rapidly accelerating the spread of the virus across the country. As of 8 June 2026, a total of nearly 37,000 dengue cases have been recorded across the island, according to data highlighted by NDCU. Almost 50 per cent of the above-mentioned cases were reported from the Western Province. Indeed, Colombo District recorded the highest number of dengue infections island-wide, accounting for 55.1% of all reported cases nationwide. During week 22, as per the NDCU update, the Colombo District reported a high number of cases (550), followed by Gampaha (531) and Kalutara (265). Outside the Western Province, substantial case numbers were reported from Matara (194), Kandy (173), Ratnapura (160), Galle (142), Hambantota (69), Kurunegala (68), and Kegalle (68), indicating widespread transmission across multiple provinces. These high-density urban areas and regional transport hubs remain the primary epicentres of the ongoing viral transmission. Hospital admissions attributable to dengue have also remained elevated. The average midnight census of dengue patients admitted to 74 sentinel hospitals increased from 785 patients in Week 21 to 899 patients in Week 22, reflecting sustained transmission and increasing demand for healthcare services. Several tertiary and secondary healthcare facilities reported rising admission trends during this period. As of Epidemiological Week 22, a total of 19 dengue-related deaths had been reported in 2026, corresponding to a case fatality rate (CFR) of 0.06%. The government authorities have implemented several intensive dengue prevention programmes across various areas of Colombo and surrounding high-risk zones. The highest number of dengue patients is being treated at the Colombo National Hospital, the District General Hospital in Negombo, the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH), the Colombo South Teaching Hospital (Kalubowila), and the National Teaching Hospital in Kandy. They are barely coping with the number of cases they are admitting as the surge places an immense strain on hospital and intensive care capacities. On 8 June 2026, local news reported that a massive three-day nationwide mosquito control campaign was launched, covering 14 districts and 72 Medical Officer of Health (MOH) divisions. Strict legal action and "red notice" warnings are being issued immediately to public premises, school grounds, construction sites, and residential houses where properties are maintained carelessly, allowing the active breeding of mosquitoes. Dengue Visual Atlas: https://denguevisualatlas.com/en/sri-lanka-launches-national-dengue-control-campaign-in-anticipation-of-rising-cases-in-2026/ ReliefWeb: https://reliefweb.int/country/lka National Dengue Control Unit: http://www.dengue.health.gov.lk/
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