– A modified strain of the dengue virus is contributing to the current spread of the disease in Sri Lanka, increasing the risk of infection among the population, Deputy Minister of Health Hansaka Wijemuni said.Addressing the media, Wijemuni said the virus currently in circulation contains several changes compared to previous strains and has not been widely encountered by the local population.

He warned that as a result, a larger number of people may be susceptible to infection, leading to a wider spread of the disease across the country.“We expected a periodic rise in dengue cases and had made the necessary preparations. However, the virus circulating this time differs from previous strains.”“Since many Sri Lankans have not been exposed to this variant before, a larger number of people are vulnerable to infection, increasing the potential for wider transmission,” Wijemuni added.