By The Pulseline News Desk
Sri Lanka’s dengue risk is set to remain elevated over the coming three weeks, with the stretch running up to mid-August flagged as a particularly high-risk phase, Cabinet Spokesperson and Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said.
Briefing reporters after this week’s Cabinet meeting, the Minister said the overall dengue situation was currently under a degree of control, with several districts reporting a decline in case numbers. Three districts, however, continue to give health authorities cause for concern and will require closer monitoring in the weeks ahead.
Rains bring renewed risk
Jayatissa pointed to the ongoing rainy weather as a key driver behind the persistent threat, warning that fresh mosquito breeding sites are emerging as a result. He cautioned that dengue control cannot be reduced to occasional cleanup drives.
“Dengue cannot be controlled through cleaning campaigns conducted on a single day. Mosquito breeding sites continue to emerge, particularly due to the current weather conditions. Even within homes, mosquito larvae can breed in places that often go unnoticed. Therefore, prevention activities must be carried out continuously,” he said.
The Minister stressed that regular cleaning of both public and private premises remains the most effective defence against the disease’s spread, particularly while wet conditions persist across much of the island.
State institutions told to sustain efforts
According to Jayatissa, directives have already gone out to all state institutions instructing them to keep up dengue prevention work without interruption. These measures, he said, will remain a national priority through the next three weeks — the window health authorities consider most critical.
He also issued a direct call to Medical Officer of Health (MOH) and Public Health Inspector (PHI) officers island-wide, urging them to stay actively involved in on-the-ground control efforts, including carrying out fogging operations in affected areas wherever necessary.
The bigger picture
While the Minister’s remarks struck a cautiously optimistic note on the national trend, the continued concern over three specific districts underscores that the fight against dengue remains uneven across the country. With the monsoon-linked rains showing no signs of letting up, health officials appear to be bracing for a demanding few weeks — one where sustained, everyday vigilance at the household level may prove just as decisive as institutional action.
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