By Newswire Editorial
A special National Dengue Prevention Week commences today (09), covering 74 Medical Officer of Health (MOH) divisions identified as being at risk of a dengue outbreak.
The National Dengue Control Unit said the programme will continue until November 14, with the participation of several government institutions, security forces and voluntary organisations.
The initiative follows concerns over a potential dengue outbreak based on previous infection trends, mosquito breeding indices and changing weather conditions.
During the week, joint dengue inspection teams will be deployed to identify and eliminate mosquito breeding sites, while abandoned premises will also be inspected and cleaned.
Special cleaning programmes will be conducted at schools, Pirivenas, universities and religious institutions, with daily operations monitored through a dedicated operations centre.
Meanwhile, according to the latest dengue statistics, 107,829 dengue cases and 81 deaths have been reported in Sri Lanka so far in 2026, as of midnight on November 08.
The highest number of cases has been reported from the Gampaha District, with 22,502 infections, followed by Colombo with 20,799 and Kandy with 8,803 cases.
The Western Province accounts for the highest number of infections, with 55,824 cases, representing 51.77% of the national total.
The Southern Province has recorded 15,253 cases, followed by the Central Province with 11,100 cases.
According to the statistics, 5,533 dengue cases were reported in October, while 1,577 cases have already been recorded during the first eight days of November.
Acting Director of the National Dengue Control Unit, Kapila Kannangara, said the unit is continuously monitoring dengue cases and mosquito breeding indices to prevent a potential outbreak. (Newswire)