Dengue precautions for the wet season

Dengue cases in Sri Lanka rise after periods of heavy rain when standing water builds up around homes and roads. Arugam Bay sees fewer cases than Colombo or Kandy, but the risk is real, especially during and after the inter-monsoon weeks.

A short reminder of what works:

• DEET-based repellent on exposed skin, reapplied during the day
• Sleep with a fan or air conditioning on — mosquitoes avoid moving air
• Empty any standing water around where you’re staying — flower-pot saucers, buckets, blocked drains
• If you develop a fever with severe body aches, headache, or pain behind the eyes, come and see us. We can run a same-day dengue test.

Do not take ibuprofen or aspirin if you suspect dengue. Paracetamol only. Stay hydrated.

Full details in our dengue article.