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Dengue Fever in Sri Lanka

02 June 2017

The Ministry of Health reported that as of 2 June 2017, there have been 56 428 cases of dengue fever so far this year. The total number of cases for the same period in 2016, to end May, was 19 083; there were 55 150 cases of dengue fever for the whole of 2016.

Advice for Travellers

All travellers to endemic regions are potentially at risk of dengue fever and should be aware of this infection. Prevention relies on avoiding mosquito bites.

Methods of mosquito bite avoidance include:

  • Wearing long, loose, lightly coloured clothing to cover up the skin during the day.
  • The use of insect repellent containing DEET applied to any exposed skin.
  • When sunscreen and DEET are used together, DEET should be applied after sunscreen. The effectiveness of repellent reduces more rapidly than sunscreen, therefore, repellent may have to be reapplied on top of sunscreen.
  • The use of permethrin, impregnated mosquito nets protects against early morning bites and should also be used when sleeping during the day.
  • The use of air conditioning if available and/or mesh screening of windows and doors.
  • Eradication of mosquito breeding sites around accommodation/home (e.g. open containers, old tyres or flower pots that may collect water).