October 22, Colombo (LNW); Sri Lanka is set to intensify its efforts to curb dengue fever through a special mosquito control campaign scheduled for November 02 to 07, as health authorities raise concerns over a growing number of mosquito breeding sites despite a recent decline in reported infections.
The National Dengue Control Unit has identified high-risk locations across the country for the week-long initiative, which aims to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds and prevent a potential surge in cases in the coming weeks.
Community Physician Specialist Dr Preshila Samaraweera said 104,094 dengue cases and 79 deaths associated with the disease had been recorded nationwide since the beginning of the year.
Colombo District continues to account for the highest number of infections, followed by Gampaha, Kandy, Kalutara, Matara, Galle, Ratnapura and Kegalle, highlighting the continued geographical spread of the disease.
According to Dr Samaraweera, 32 Medical Officer of Health (MOH) areas have been designated as high-risk zones. Health officials have also detected an increase in mosquito larval density in vulnerable locations across 13 districts, prompting renewed efforts to strengthen preventive measures.
The campaign will focus on controlling mosquito populations and removing potential breeding grounds, with authorities seeking greater public cooperation to limit the spread of dengue during the weeks ahead.
However, the latest surveillance findings suggest that the threat remains significant even as reported infections have fallen in recent months.
National Dengue Control Unit Entomologist Dr Sakunthala Janaki warned that mosquito breeding had increased considerably in several parts of the country, raising concerns about a possible reversal of the recent downward trend in dengue cases.
Surveys conducted in October found that approximately 8.7 per cent of residential premises inspected contained mosquito breeding sites. The situation was even more concerning at government institutions, where the proportion of premises identified as breeding locations rose from around 17 per cent in September to 33 per cent in October.
The findings indicate that public buildings and institutional premises require closer attention, alongside residential properties, if the country is to prevent a fresh wave of infections.
Data from the National Dengue Control Unit also revealed a concerning rise in the national premises index, which measures the proportion of inspected properties found to contain mosquito breeding sites. Although dengue cases declined during August, September and October, the index increased from approximately 6.5 per cent in August to around 9 per cent in October.
The divergence between declining case numbers and increasing mosquito breeding activity has raised the possibility that the current improvement may not be sustained unless preventive action is stepped up.
Dr Janaki cautioned that dengue infections could begin increasing again within the next four to six weeks if existing breeding sites are not identified and eliminated effectively.
Health authorities have therefore urged the public to take immediate action rather than rely solely on government-led inspections and control programmes. Residents have been advised to regularly inspect their homes and surrounding areas, remove stagnant water and clear containers or other objects that can collect rainwater.
Workplaces, government institutions and other public premises have also been urged to maintain proper environmental hygiene and ensure that potential mosquito breeding sites are removed.
With more than 104,000 cases already reported this year, health officials are seeking to prevent a further deterioration of the situation through coordinated action by authorities, institutions and the public.
The success of the November campaign will depend not only on inspections and mosquito control operations but also on sustained efforts to eliminate breeding grounds before they contribute to another increase in dengue transmission.
