Health experts say there is no scientific evidence of a new dengue variant in Sri Lanka, rejecting recent claims by government leaders.
Dengue variant claims made by Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya and Deputy Minister of Health Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni have been rejected by health experts, who say there is no scientific evidence to support such assertions.
Health experts dismissed the recent statements that the current increase in dengue cases across the country is the result of a new or mutated dengue virus variant.
They stressed that, to date, no scientific evidence has been produced to confirm the existence of such a variant.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror newspaper, dengue expert Dr. Lakkumar Fernando said that no laboratory in Sri Lanka has so far identified a new dengue virus variant.
He explained that while the circulating serotype of the dengue virus may have changed, such a development should not be described as a new or mutated variant.
“No laboratory has discovered a new variant. We do not have sufficient evidence to make such a claim,” Dr. Fernando said.
