Leading Sri Lankan scientist Professor Neelika Malavige says Sri Lanka is experiencing a large outbreak of the Chikungunya viral disease, after almost 20 years.

In a post shared on ‘X’, Professor Malavige said that a whole-genomic sequencing using the Oxford Nanopore analysis system was carried out to identify the strain.

She further said that it has been found that the current virus was of the Indian Ocean lineage (IOL) with several unique mutations.

Further sharing a research paper, Professor Malavige revealed the following;

Sri Lanka is currently experiencing a large Chikungunya outbreak, since the end of 2024, after 16 years. We carried out whole genomic sequencing of the currently circulating Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) strain and found that it was of the Indian ocean lineage (IOL), similar to the currently circulating CHIKV strains in South Asia. 

While the E:226V mutation, which has been associated with Aedes albopictus transmission efficiency, was absent in all 2025 CHIKV viral sequences, they carried the E1:K211E and E2: V264A mutations, which result in enhanced viral fitness within the Aedes aegpti mosquito. 

The mutations nsP1:I167V, nsP2:I171V, nsP2:T224I, nsP3:A382I and nsp4: were detected in the non-structural protein, with the Sri Lankan 2025 CHIKV strains showing unique mutations within nsP3:T224I and nsP4: S90A. 

As some of these novel mutations have not been characterized previously, it is important to find out how they affect fitness within mosquitoes, viral replication and immune evasion. (Newswire)

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President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has directed the relevant officials to promptly address the urgent repairs needed for the canals and drainage systems in response to the rapid rise in dengue and chikungunya cases in the Colombo District.

The President gave these directives during a meeting held today (20 May) at the Presidential Secretariat with officials from the Ministry of Urban Development, Construction and Housing, and other relevant institutions.

The President questioned the officials regarding the inadequate maintenance of the canals and drainage systems, directing the Urban Development Authority to devise a plan that includes sustainable solutions for the improper disposal of waste and wastewater. The President also informed the relevant officials to submit the relevant plans promptly.

During the meeting, attention was also drawn to address the issue of improper waste disposal by enhancing the active involvement of the Police Environmental Protection Division and Community Committees. 

Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing Anura Karunathilaka, Governor of the Western Province Hanif Yusoof, the Chairman of the Urban Development Authority, the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation and senior officials of relevant institutions participated in the meeting. (Newswire)

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The Ministry of Health has warned of an increase in the spread of Chikungunya viral disease in Sri Lanka. 

The Epidemiology Unit said that surveillance has been conducted in selected hospitals in the Western Province since last December on the spread of Chikungunya.

The surveillance revealed that the number of cases reported in the Western Province has increased, and that Chikungunya cases were also reported in other provinces. 

The vectors for chikungunya are the same mosquitoes that transmit dengue fever, which are Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. 

Headache, redness of the eyes, pain in the eyes when looking at light, and fever are the main symptoms of the disease.

For infected persons, joint pain, insomnia, and other physical discomforts will persist for five to seven days.

The Epidemiology Unit has advised that it is important to keep the surrounding environment clean to prevent mosquitoes from breeding and to prevent the disease. (Newswire)

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