Sri Lanka’s Schools on Dengue Alert as Cases Surge Past 24,000

COLOMBO (News 1st); The National Dengue Control Unit has revealed that approximately 25% of dengue patients reported in Sri Lanka this year are school-aged children, raising serious concerns about the safety and hygiene of school environments.

Community Health Specialist Dr. Prashila Samarawira stated that mosquito breeding grounds have been identified in nearly 50% of schools surveyed. Alarmingly, 14% of these sites have already shown the presence of dengue-carrying mosquito larvae.

In response, the Ministry of Education has issued a new circular instructing schools to be divided into zones for regular cleaning. Each zone will be assigned a responsible teacher to ensure proper maintenance and mosquito control.

Deputy Minister of Education, Dr. Madhura Seneviratne, emphasized that a special program is now underway in collaboration with health authorities to transform schools into dengue-free zones.

The Dengue Control Unit stressed the importance of collective responsibility, urging students, parents, and teachers to actively maintain cleanliness in and around school premises.

As of now, a total of 24,361 dengue cases have been reported across the country in 2025.