Connect with us

News

Largest Chikungunya outbreak after 16 years – Prof. Malavige

Published

on

Sri Lanka is currently experiencing a large Chikungunya outbreak after 16 years and the current virus was of the Indian Ocean Lineage (IOL) with several unique mutations, Sri Jayewardenepura University’s Immunology and Molecular Medicine Department Head Prof. Neelika Malavige said in a post on X.

She said a team of researchers carried out whole genomic sequencing of the currently circulating Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) strain and found that it was of the Indian ocean lineage (IOL), similar to the currently circulating CHIKV strains in South Asia. The findings of this research can be found in a paper titled “The re-emergence of Chikungunya in Sri Lanka: A genomic investigation,” published on medRxiv.

While the E:226V mutation, which has been associated with Aedes albopictus transmission efficiency, was absent in all 2025 CHIKV viral sequences, they carried the E1:K211E and E2: V264A mutations, which result in enhanced viral fitness within the Aedes aegpti mosquito. The mutations nsP1:I167V, nsP2:I171V, nsP2:T224I, nsP3:A382I and nsp4: were detected in the non-structural protein, with the Sri Lankan 2025 CHIKV strains showing unique mutations within nsP3:T224I and nsP4: S90A,” the paper said.

“As some of these novel mutations have not been characterized previously, it is important to find out how they affect fitness within mosquitoes, viral replication and immune evasion,” she said in a post on X.

Sri Lanka experienced the first outbreak of CHIKV between the years 2006 to 2008, which led to 37,667 clinically suspected infections. Although CHIKV had caused outbreaks in the region, including in India from 1960s onwards, surveys have shown that CHIKV is unlikely to have circulated in Sri Lankans prior to 2006, the researchers claim.

After the outbreak waned in 2008, CHIKV cases were not reported in Sri Lanka for the next decade. However, febrile surveillance during years 2017 to 2018, has shown that in some regions in Sri Lanka, around 1% of febrile patients were infected with CHIKV, indicating that the virus had been circulating in Sri Lanka despite not causing outbreaks.

“After 16 years around the end of 2024, patients presenting with a Chikungunya-like illness was reported in Colombo, which was later confirmed as CHIKV cases. Since then, the reported CHIKV cases  have rapidly increased and now Sri Lanka is experiencing a large outbreak. Due to a lack of widespread access to CHIKV diagnostics and a concurrent dengue outbreak, the true estimates of cases from this outbreak are unknown. The genomic sequence of the currently circulating CHIKV strain is needed to guide decisions around diagnostics and outbreak,” the researchers said.

(dailynews.lk)

(This story, originally published by dailynews.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

News

GoSL to develop unique Food Security Index for SL

Published

on

By

The government is currently prioritizing the development of a country-specific Food Security Index, with the goal of completing the initiative within the next three months.

This tailored index is expected to better reflect Sri Lanka’s unique food security landscape, addressing the limitations of global indices such as the Global Food Security Index (GFSI), which have been criticized for failing to capture the nuances of the local context. Policymakers have also noted that existing data is often insufficient or imprecise, making it challenging to develop effective strategies.

The proposed index aims to identify key national priorities and guide food security policy over the next five years.

As a first step in this effort, a workshop titled “Identifying a Suitable Food Security Index for Sri Lanka and Formulating a Strategic Plan” was held today (17) at the Colombo City Center. Organized by the Food Security Expert Committee in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP), the event brought together experts and stakeholders from across the sector.

Delivering the opening remarks, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Kapila Gunaratne emphasized the importance of the initiative, stating that the development of a precise, country-specific index is a vital step toward ensuring both economic stability and national food security. The workshop focused on the four key dimensions of food security; availability, accessibility, utilization and stability and explored how these can be incorporated into a comprehensive and practical national index.

Participants included members of the Food Security Expert Committee, such as Senior Professors Buddhi Marambe and Jeevika Weerahewa, along with representatives from various government agencies, academic institutions, the FAO, the WFP and the private sector.

(President’s Media Division)

Continue Reading

News

Several Opp. MPs walk out of Parliament

Published

on

By

Several opposition members of Parliament have walked out of the Parliament chamber today (June 17.) in protest over the actions of the Speaker of House, according to Chief Opposition Whip Member of Parliament Gayantha Karunathilleka.

MP Karunathilleka noted that several MPs including those from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), walked out of Parliament after the Speaker refused to allocate time to discuss the on-going Iran-Israel conflict.

Continue Reading

News

SL – France sign key debt restructuring agreement

Published

on

By

Sri Lanka and France signed a bilateral agreement yesterday (June 16) in Colombo, marking a major milestone in Sri Lanka’s external debt restructuring process, the Ministry of Finance announced.

The bilateral agreement was signed by Mahinda Siriwardana, Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development, on behalf of the government and William Roos, Assistant Secretary, Multilateral Affairs, Trade and Development Policies Department, Directorate-general of the Treasury, on behalf of the government of France.

The statement by the Finance Ministry added that the government of France played a pivotal role in spearheading Sri Lanka’s external debt restructuring process, co-chairing the Official Creditor Committee alongside Japan and India.

The Ministry noted that the agreement would further strengthen the longstanding bilateral relationships between the two nations.

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2024 Sri Lanka Mirror. All Rights Reserved