Sri Lanka has recorded 61,060 dengue cases as of 7 July 2025, with 2,604 new infections logged in a single 24-hour period, the National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU) confirmed on Monday. The surge has pushed several hospitals in the country's most populous province to maximum capacity, raising fears of a rise in fatalities if the outbreak is not brought under control swiftly.

Scale of the Outbreak

The Western Province accounts for the bulk of infections, recording 32,054 cases — equivalent to 52.5 per cent of the national total. The Southern Province follows with 9,674 cases, ahead of Sabaragamuwa (5,237), Central (4,823), Eastern (2,979), and North Western (2,778). The NDCU has designated 142 Medical Officers of Health (MOH) divisions nationwide as high-risk dengue zones. June recorded the highest monthly case count of the year, with 21,546 infections — a figure that signals the outbreak is still accelerating.

Hospital Pressure and the Government's Response

Multiple hospitals across the Western Province have reached full capacity, according to the NDCU. Acting Director Dr. Kapila Kannangara said the spike in patients has placed severe strain on healthcare infrastructure and made timely treatment increasingly difficult. Authorities have drawn up a three-phase strategy covering short-term, medium-term, and long-term interventions, though emergency short-term measures are being prioritised given the immediate risk that deaths could rise if infections continue to climb.

A New Dengue Strain Raising Alarm

In June, Sri Lanka's Deputy Minister of Health Hansaka Wijemuni warned that a new strain of the dengue virus is now circulating in the country, carrying a higher transmission risk. Wijemuni told reporters that the current variant carries several genetic changes compared with strains previously detected in Sri Lanka, and that a large portion of the population may have had no prior exposure to it — leaving them more vulnerable to severe infection. Health authorities say they had anticipated a periodic surge and had made preparations, but the scale of the current wave has tested those plans.

Prevention Drive and Public Appeal

A countrywide mosquito-breeding prevention programme was launched in response to the new strain. Wijemuni stressed that state action alone would be insufficient and urged citizens to eliminate standing water and other mosquito breeding sites around their homes. The government's stated priority is twofold: reducing mosquito populations and ensuring patients reach medical care before their condition deteriorates.

What to Watch

With June already the worst month of the year and the monsoon season sustaining conditions favourable to mosquito breeding, health officials warn the case count could climb further before it recedes. The effectiveness of the three-phase strategy — and whether hospital capacity can be expanded quickly enough — will determine whether Sri Lanka can prevent a significant rise in dengue fatalities in the weeks ahead.