A pregnant woman and her seven-month-old unborn baby have died after contracting dengue, highlighting the growing severity of the outbreak in Sri Lanka.
The woman, a resident of Wadduwa, was initially admitted to hospital in critical condition before being transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Despite intensive medical treatment, doctors were unable to save either the mother or her unborn child.
The tragedy comes amid a sharp rise in dengue infections across the country. According to the latest official figures, Sri Lanka has reported 86,386 dengue cases so far in 2026, with 62 deaths, while the case fatality rate stands at 0.07%.
Nearly 30,000 infections were recorded in July alone, making it the worst-affected month of the year, while more than 1,000 new cases have already been reported in August.
The Western Province continues to account for the highest number of infections, recording 45,675 cases. Gampaha District has reported the highest tally with 18,321 cases, followed by Colombo with 17,101. The Southern Province has recorded 12,969 cases, while the Central Province has reported 7,567 infections.
Health authorities have urged the public to eliminate mosquito breeding sites, take preventive measures, and seek immediate medical attention if dengue symptoms develop, as the ongoing monsoon rains continue to increase the risk of transmission.
