What is the mosquito-borne disease Sri Lanka is using drones to fight?
Summary
Sri Lanka is facing its worst dengue outbreak in nearly ten years, with over 77,000 infections and 56 deaths this year. The government is using military drones to find and remove mosquito breeding sites to control the spread of the disease.Key Facts
- Dengue fever is caused by a virus spread through Aedes mosquito bites.
- Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water like buckets and flowerpot trays.
- Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain, nausea, and rash; severe cases can cause internal bleeding or death.
- There are four strains of dengue virus, and infection by one does not protect against the others.
- Sri Lanka’s dengue surge is linked to a cyclone that left debris, creating more mosquito breeding grounds.
- Military drones scan rooftops for breeding sites, and police inspect homes to reduce mosquito populations.
- Over 11,000 mosquito breeding sites have been cleared recently, with fines issued to over 4,000 locations.
- Hospitals are overwhelmed, and mild cases are advised to recover at home; a universal vaccine is not yet available.
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