Sri Lanka's military and air force are operating drones to locate and map mosquito-breeding sites across the country [1].
This deployment comes as the nation faces its worst dengue outbreak in a decade. The use of aerial surveillance represents an emergency escalation to curb the spread of the virus in high-risk areas, including the region around Colombo [2].
Health officials said that more than 77,000 people have been infected with dengue in 2026 [3]. The outbreak has resulted in 56 deaths so far this year [3].
The drones are being used to identify stagnant water and other breeding grounds that are often inaccessible to ground teams. By mapping these sites from the air, the military can provide precise coordinates to health workers for targeted eradication efforts [2].
Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne illness that can cause severe symptoms and, in some cases, death. The current surge in cases has strained the public health infrastructure, leading the government to enlist the air force for logistical support [3].
This strategy aims to reduce the mosquito population rapidly to prevent further fatalities. The operation is currently active nationwide as part of a broader public health response to the 2026 crisis [1], [2].
“Sri Lanka's military and air force are operating drones to locate and map mosquito-breeding sites”
The integration of military-grade surveillance into public health efforts indicates a critical gap in traditional urban sanitation and mosquito control. By utilizing the air force for mapping, Sri Lanka is shifting toward a precision-medicine approach to epidemiology, treating the outbreak as a security threat to be managed with tactical intelligence rather than solely as a medical issue.
