Dengue Fever in Sri Lanka (Update 1)

On 8 August, the Sri Lankan Ministry of Health reported 125 387 suspected dengue cases since the start of 2017. About 45% of these cases have been in the island’s Western province. Highest case numbers were reported during the week ending 9 July 2017. Around 300 people have died in the outbreak.

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).

For further information see Dengue Fever.