As the number of dengue patients increases, recent data by health officials has shown that schoolchildren are among the most vulnerable groups to contract the disease. During the National Dengue Awareness Week, which ran from June 30 to July 5, health workers found that school-aged children are victims of the disease and that schools are unintentional contributors to the spread of mosquitoes.
According to the National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU), Sri Lanka has recorded over 30,000 dengue cases and 16 deaths by July 2025. Data from the Epidemiology Unit have shown that children are among the most affected communities, amounting to around 25 percent of all dengue patients, and 20 percent of dengue-related deaths. This risk is amplified in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Eastern, and Southern provinces, which consistently report the highest incidence.
This vulnerability is partly due to the daily routines of schoolchildren. The peak hours for Aedes mosquitoes, the primary dengue vector, coincide almost exactly with school hours, between 6.00 am and 9.00 am. This overlap means that the threat of infection is highest while children are gathered in classrooms, playgrounds, and other school environments.
Schools identified as mosquito breeding grounds
Recent detections during the Dengue Awareness Week show the scale of the problem. During the Awareness Week, health workers inspected over 144,000 premises across the island. They discovered 35,495 locations that could potentially support mosquito breeding, with live larvae found in 4,275 of these. Consultant Community Physician at the NDCU, Dr. Preshila Samaraweera, told the media that red notices were issued to 3,812 sites, while legal action is planned against 982 individuals whose properties were identified as breeding sites.
She added that they discovered many schools with dengue mosquito breeding sites. Health workers flagged 121 schools as potential breeding sites, out of 229 schools inspected. Meanwhile mosquito larvae were found in 29 sites. Consultant Community Physician at the NDCU, Dr. Anoja Dheerasinghe, described the situation as “very dangerous,” warning that school authorities and all responsible parties must intensify their efforts to prevent mosquito breeding.
Mosquito breeding sites at school are not a new phenomenon. Entomological surveys conducted between 2016 and 2019 also identified schools to be among the top locations for mosquito breeding. In 2017, 5.3 percent of schools inspected were found to have breeding sites. This figure more than doubled to 11.7 percent in 2018 and surged to 21 percent by 2019, indicating a clear and worsening trend. While the numbers reduced in 2020 and 2021 due to school closures during Covid-19, cases among schoolchildren have been increasing rapidly since 2022.
Government response: ‘Clean Steps – Safe Spaces’ campaign and structural improvements
In response to these alarming developments, the Government recently launched a national campaign called ‘Clean Steps – Safe Spaces’, targeting all schools across the country. The campaign aims to eliminate breeding sites and raise awareness among both students and staff.
The Government has also moved to address some of the root causes. Dr. Madhura Senevirathna, Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education, told the Sunday Observer the poor state of school infrastructure as a significant factor. Many schools, he said, have buildings that are either partially constructed or have not been maintained properly, creating ideal conditions for stagnant water to collect and mosquitoes to breed.
“Since the Covid-19 pandemic and the economic crisis, schools have lacked sufficient funds for maintenance and to complete partially constructed buildings,” Dr. Senevirathna said. “We have now allocated funds in this year’s budget to complete these structures, which will significantly reduce potential mosquito breeding sites.”
Waste management is another area of focus. Schools have made progress in teaching children the importance of waste separation, and some have even started composting. However, removing waste from school premises has been challenging due to a lack of support from local authorities. Dr. Senevirathna said the new Local Councillors will provide greater support for schools in this regard.
“This is not a one-off program. We have established committees comprising students, staff members, community leaders and political authorities to continue to monitor mosquito breeding, educate children on the disease and what they can do and waste management. Hopefully, the values children learn here will stick with them. We want to address issues in a sustainable manner,” he said.
The crucial role of education and school-based programs
Research supports the Government’s approach of targeting schools for dengue prevention, not just through environmental management but also through education. A 2020 study, published in Scientific Research Journal, by S. M. Arnold at the Ministry of Health found that schools running dedicated dengue programs showed much higher levels of student knowledge and engagement.
The study revealed that 95.5 percent of students in schools with dengue programs had a good knowledge about disease transmission and prevention, compared to only 60.5 percent in schools without such initiatives. Schools with active dengue programmes also had fewer potential breeding sites on their premises, as measured by the Potential Container Index.
“Schoolchildren, being a captive population, can easily adopt positive practices,” Arnold said in the study. “Educating them on dengue control ensures they maintain mosquito-free environments at school and home, and act as messengers for prevention in their communities.”
However, knowledge alone does not guarantee good practice. The study found that in some schools, high awareness did not always translate into action. This points to the need for ongoing engagement, both through school health clubs and by embedding dengue prevention into the education curriculum. The primary goal is to foster lasting behavioural change in children, habits that they will carry into adulthood.
The way forward
Despite the daunting statistics, it’s possible to make significant progress against dengue, particularly if school-based interventions remain a priority. Dr. Samaraweera and Dr. Dheerasinghe both said that sustained, year-round efforts are essential. Cleaning up breeding sites only during outbreaks allows mosquito populations to rebound when climatic conditions become favourable, Dr. Samaraweera told the Sunday Observer.
As the Government initiatives roll out and new resources reach schools for building maintenance and waste management, the hope is that Sri Lanka will see a decline in the number of cases among children. But the challenge is ongoing, and the stakes remain high, each year, between 30,000 and 50,000 dengue cases are reported nationwide, with annual epidemics now a persistent feature of public health.
