A vaccine is to be introduced for Dengue control

The government is paying special attention to introducing modern vaccines approved by the World Health Organization and implementing the 'Wolbachia' natural bacteria-based biological mosquito control method to curb the rapidly spreading dengue disease across the island. Health and Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa revealed this while participating in a dengue control awareness program held at the Ministry of Health auditorium.

The Minister pointed out that discussions have already begun to swiftly introduce this vaccine method, which is already successfully used in 41 countries worldwide, to the local community.

Analyzing the current dengue spread data, 52.5% of all patients are reported from the Western Province, with 20% of those identified solely from Colombo and Gampaha districts, which is a unique situation. As an immediate remedy to this high-risk situation, the Minister stated that a specialized dengue control program has been launched, targeting 23 high-risk Medical Officer of Health (MOH) divisions within the Western Province.

The Minister, noting that dengue has become a major social challenge today, recalled how Sri Lanka faced its worst dengue epidemic in 2017, with over 187,000 patients and 447 deaths reported. He also pointed out that current global climate change and weather patterns have created a more favorable environment for mosquito breeding. However, due to significant improvements in clinical treatment services and management within the health sector, the mortality rate, which stood at one percent in 2009, has now been remarkably reduced to between 0.05% and 0.06%.

Meanwhile, the government has decided to further expand existing treatment facilities for patients, and under this, steps are being taken to establish new specialized dengue wards and High Dependency Units (HDUs) centered in hospitals, and to assign additional specialist doctors, medical officers, nursing, and support staff. According to data from Dr. Kapila Kannangara, Acting Director of the National Dengue Control Unit, 61,060 dengue patients and 39 deaths have been reported in the country during the elapsed period of 2026 alone. He also revealed that among these deaths, five were young children under the age of five, and the mortality rate among women is higher compared to men.

Authorities state that completely destroying dengue mosquito breeding sites is the only permanent solution to curb the spread of dengue, and these modern technological methods will be implemented while traditional efforts continue. Commenting on this, Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, Specialist Dr. Anil Jasinghe, emphasized that since dengue is an endemic disease in Sri Lanka, mosquito control activities should not be a temporary project carried out from time to time. Instead, the Secretary further stated that dengue control should become an essential part of the public's daily lifestyle.