A four-year-old girl from Dickwella has died after contracting dengue hemorrhagic fever while undergoing treatment at the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of the Galle National Hospital.
The child was initially admitted to the Dickwella District Hospital after developing a high fever. As her condition worsened, she was transferred to the Matara General Hospital before being moved to the Galle National Hospital for specialized intensive care.
Despite receiving treatment, the girl died on Monday (20). A sudden death inquiry and post-mortem examination later confirmed dengue hemorrhagic fever as the cause of death.
The fatality comes as Sri Lanka continues to battle a severe dengue outbreak. According to the latest health data, the country has reported 78,125 dengue cases and 56 related deaths so far in 2026, with a case fatality rate of 0.07%.
Health authorities recorded 22,749 infections in July alone, following 21,355 cases reported in June, highlighting the sustained spread of the mosquito-borne disease.
The Western Province remains the worst-affected region, accounting for 41,236 cases, or 52.78% of the national total, with Gampaha and Colombo reporting the highest numbers.
Meanwhile, the Southern Province has recorded 11,950 dengue cases, with Matara and Galle among the districts experiencing the greatest burden.
Officials have also identified 162 high-risk Medical Officer of Health (MOH) areas during Epidemiological Week 28, while the country continues to report an average of 2,652 new dengue infections each day.
Public health authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant and eliminate mosquito breeding sites, warning that this year’s seasonal surge has intensified earlier than expected and continues to place significant pressure on hospitals nationwide.
