Sri Lanka has recorded 94,292 notified dengue cases in 2026, while 76 Medical Officer of Health areas remain classified as high-risk and under intensified surveillance, according to the National Dengue Control Unit.
The figures underline the continuing scale of the country's dengue burden as health authorities maintain surveillance and control activities in high-risk areas.
The National Dengue Control Unit, which functions as the focal point for the national dengue-control programme within the Ministry of Health, published both figures in its latest public update.
76 high-risk MOH areas
The classification of 76 MOH areas as high-risk does not mean dengue transmission is limited to those areas.
Instead, it identifies areas requiring intensified surveillance and control attention based on the public-health assessment.
The National Dengue Control Unit's responsibilities include early detection and rapid response to outbreaks, risk communication, community mobilisation and coordination of dengue-control activities across different sectors.
Western Province carries the largest reported burden
Separate reporting based on National Dengue Control Unit data indicates that the Western Province continues to account for the largest proportion of reported cases.
The Morning reported that 49,901 cases, or approximately 52.9% of the national total, were from the Western Province.
It reported 13,779 cases in the Southern Province and 8,551 in the Central Province.
At district level, the same report identified Gampaha and Colombo as having the highest reported totals, with 20,081 and 18,709 cases respectively.
Reported deaths
The Morning, citing National Dengue Control Unit data, reported that 72 dengue-related deaths had been recorded during 2026.
Because mortality data can be revised as cases are reviewed and classified, the number should be understood as the reported total at the time of that update rather than a permanent final figure for the year.
Dengue remains an active public-health issue
The National Dengue Control Unit has continued to emphasise surveillance, rapid outbreak response, environmental management and community participation in dengue prevention.
The number of cases alone also does not indicate the severity of an individual patient's illness.
People with suspected dengue should follow medical advice and seek prompt assessment when warning signs develop rather than relying on national statistics or platelet counts alone to judge individual risk.