Sri Lanka has year-round mosquito activity, with peak risk during the two monsoon seasons: the southwest monsoon from May through September and the northeast monsoon from October through January. The western and southern coastal regions, including Colombo, carry the highest dengue burden. Rural and north-central areas have residual malaria risk.
Dengue fever is the primary concern, with Sri Lanka experiencing large outbreaks, particularly in urban and suburban areas. Malaria (P. vivax) has been dramatically reduced and the country achieved WHO malaria-free certification, though imported cases occur. Chikungunya, Japanese encephalitis, and lymphatic filariasis are also present.
Aedes aegypti is the dominant dengue vector in urban areas, biting during daylight hours. Culex species are associated with Japanese encephalitis and filariasis transmission in rural zones.
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Disease presence data is sourced from WHO, CDC, ECDC, and OpenDengue. This is not medical advice — consult a travel health professional before your trip.