• Experts warn Govt authorities and public to take timely action  
• NMRA Chair notes delay in FBC testing, NSAIDS consumption 

National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) Chairperson and clinician, Dr Ananda Wijewickrama warned that dengue would reach epic proportions similar to 2017 if the Government authorities – other than the Health Ministry – and the public fail to take timely action to stem the situation.

Addressing the media, Dr Wijewickrema, recalling the situation in 2017, said yesterday (01) that it had come to a point when the National Institute of Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) had been forced to close its doors to patients owing to the large numbers that were warded at the Hospital. “In several hospitals, coping with the numbers being admitted with dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever, had been a challenge at the time. The usual norm is for an influx of patients to be seen during this month (June). But, this year (2026), there has been a turn in the situation where large numbers were witnessed by last month (May)”.

He noted that delays in seeking medical attention and undergoing the Full Blood Count (FBC) test, and the tendency of some patients to take Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS) had contributed largely towards this situation where patients seek medical attention only when they reach the dengue hemorrhagic stage.

Responding to questions as to why the island is still battling dengue even after 20 years, he said that there should be an effort made by all concerned institutions including those in Education to battle the disease. Also, the people have behavioural changes and act in the least when it comes to cleaning their immediate environs.

He noted that as the number of dengue patients increases, the country would also have to witness an increase in the number of dengue deaths.

Consultant Community Physician at the Health Ministry’s Epidemiology Unit, Dr Thushani Dabarera said that from January to the end of May, there had been a total of 33,572 cases of dengue recorded with 19 deaths recorded as of 31 May.  In May alone, there were 8,321 cases. She noted that 72 high risk Medical Officer of Health (MOH) areas had been identified during 21 weeks by the National Dengue Surveillance of the National Dengue Control Unit. More than 50 per cent of cases are from the Western Province, she noted.

According to Epidemiological statistics, in 2017, the country saw a colossal 186,101 suspected dengue cases and 440 dengue-related deaths. However, by the last two years, the numbers reduced to 49,877 cases while there were only 24 fatalities recorded that year.