We have heard warnings about dengue for decades. Every year, with the arrival of the monsoon rains, public appeals are made, clean-up campaigns are launched, and health officials urge citizens to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds. Yet the country continues to find itself confronting the same threat, often with tragic consequences.
The latest warning from National Medicines Regulatory Authority Chairperson Dr Ananda Wijewickrama should therefore not be dismissed as another routine alert. His caution that we could face a dengue outbreak on a scale similar to the devastating epidemic of 2017 deserves the attention of policymakers, local authorities, and the public alike.
The figures are already concerning. More than 33,000 cases and 19 deaths have been recorded during the first five months of this year. More troubling is the fact that infections are rising earlier than expected. June is traditionally the month when hospitals begin seeing a sharp increase in dengue admissions. This year, however, the surge was already evident in May.
Those who remember 2017 will recall the strain placed on the country’s healthcare system. Hospitals struggled to accommodate the overwhelming number of patients. The Infectious Diseases Hospital was forced to limit admissions because of overcrowding. Medical staff worked under immense pressure while families anxiously searched for beds and treatment. More than 186,000 suspected cases and hundreds of deaths were recorded that year.
The concern today is not merely the number of infections. It is the possibility that we are once again failing to address the conditions that allow dengue to flourish.
What makes dengue particularly frustrating is that it is largely preventable. Unlike many other diseases, its spread depends heavily on environmental conditions and human behaviour. The mosquito responsible for transmitting dengue breeds in stagnant water found in discarded containers, blocked drains, neglected gardens, construction sites, and countless other locations created by human activity.
Health authorities can educate the public and treat patients, but they cannot inspect every household, workplace, school, and neighbourhood. The fight against dengue has always required collective responsibility. Yet every year, evidence suggests that this responsibility is not being taken seriously enough.
Dr Wijewickrama is correct in pointing out that dengue prevention cannot be left solely to the Health Ministry. Local government institutions, schools, businesses, construction companies, and community organisations, all have a role to play. Effective waste management, regular inspections, environmental maintenance, and public awareness programmes must be continuous rather than seasonal exercises that gain attention only when case numbers begin to rise.
Equally worrying is the tendency of many patients to delay seeking medical attention. Dengue can deteriorate rapidly, particularly when warning signs are ignored. Medical experts have repeatedly stressed the importance of early diagnosis and monitoring through blood tests. Yet some individuals continue to self-medicate or rely on inappropriate treatments, only seeking hospital care when complications have already developed.
This is not merely a personal health issue. Delayed treatment places additional pressure on hospitals and increases the risk of preventable deaths. Public education campaigns must therefore focus not only on prevention but also on recognising symptoms and seeking timely medical advice.
The concentration of cases in the Western Province is another reminder that urbanisation, population density, and poor environmental management continue to fuel outbreaks. Rapid development without adequate attention to sanitation and drainage creates ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes. This is a challenge that requires long-term planning rather than temporary responses.
The reduction in dengue cases and deaths seen over the past two years demonstrates that progress is possible. Lower numbers may have created a sense of optimism, but they should never have been mistaken for victory. Dengue has repeatedly shown its ability to return with force when vigilance weakens.
The lesson from past outbreaks is simple. Waiting until hospitals are overwhelmed is not a strategy. By the time emergency measures are introduced, the virus has already spread widely through communities. Prevention is effective only when action is taken before a crisis emerges.
We still have an opportunity to avoid a repeat of 2017. The warning signs are visible, the data is available, and the experience of previous outbreaks offers valuable lessons. What remains uncertain is whether the country will act with the urgency required.