Sri Lanka is grappling with a significant outbreak of chikungunya, marking the country’s most severe resurgence of the mosquito-borne disease in almost 20 years, according to leading virologist Dr. Neelika Malavige.
In a recent post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Dr. Malavige confirmed that her team has carried out whole genome sequencing to identify the virus strain responsible for the recent surge in infections.
Chikungunya is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, the same vector responsible for spreading dengue, and typically causes high fever, rash, and severe joint pain that can persist for weeks or even months.
Public health authorities have issued urgent calls for communities to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds, particularly stagnant water in and around residential areas.
The current outbreak raises renewed concerns over vector-borne disease preparedness, especially as the country also continues to battle seasonal dengue epidemics.
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