Dengue

Spread by mosquitoes that breed in standing water. The largest reported count in most tropical countries.

Is dengue worse than usual anywhere?

Above usual in Sri Lanka.

What is dengue?

An infection caused by the dengue virus, carried by mosquitoes. Most people have mild or no illness, but it can become severe.

Signs: High fever, bad headache, pain behind the eyes, aching muscles and joints, feeling sick, vomiting, swollen glands and rash. Usually lasts two to seven days.
How it spreads: Through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito, which bites mainly in the daytime. Rarely, through blood transfusions, organ donation, or from mother to baby.
How to protect yourself: Cover up, use nets, window screens and repellent. Empty, clean and cover anything holding water weekly. A vaccine is licensed in some countries for children aged 6 to 16 in high-risk areas.
Get medical help: Get help immediately, often just after the fever drops, for bad stomach pain, repeated vomiting, fast breathing, bleeding gums or nose, blood in vomit or poo, or cold pale skin. Use paracetamol, not ibuprofen or aspirin.

In Dooram's words, from the World Health Organization. Source: WHO fact sheet: Dengue and severe dengue, read 8 October 2026. General information, not medical advice.

Which districts are furthest above their usual?

22 districts are above usual.

Each district against itself. A large district always has more cases than a small one, so each is compared only with its own usual.

When does dengue usually peak?

Sri LankaUsually around December and January: it peaked then in 13 of the last 19 years.
PakistanAround October: it peaked in October 2024 and October 2025.

What "usual" means.

Sources. Epidemiology Unit, Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, weekly report; Field Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Division, National Institutes of Health, Islamabad, weekly report.