Food poisoning

Illness from contaminated food, usually short-lived.

Is food poisoning worse than usual anywhere?

At or below its usual in every country that reports it.

What is food poisoning?

Illness from eating food or drink spoiled by germs (bacteria, viruses, parasites) or by harmful chemicals.

Signs
Usually feeling sick, vomiting, stomach pain and diarrhoea. Fever and headache can happen too.
How it spreads
By eating raw or undercooked meat, chicken or seafood, unpasteurised milk, unwashed raw fruit and vegetables, or food made with dirty water.
How to protect yourself
WHO's five keys: keep clean, keep raw and cooked food apart, cook food thoroughly, store food at safe temperatures, and use safe water and ingredients.
Get medical help
Babies, young children, older people, pregnant women and sick people are most at risk; get them help early. Heavy watery diarrhoea can dry out the body fast and needs urgent care.

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

Which districts are furthest above their usual?

No district is 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 food poisoning usually peak?

  • Sri LankaTwice a year: most often around February and March (8 of 18 years), and around September and October (6).

What "usual" means.

Sources. Epidemiology Unit, Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, weekly report.