Swine flu threat:
Lanka on alert
Nadira Gunatilleke
* Swine influenza virus (referred to as SIV) refers to influenza
cases caused by Orthomyxoviruses endemic to pig populations.
* SIV strains isolated to date have been classified either as
Influenzavirus C or one of the various subtypes of the genus
Influenzavirus A.
* Swine flu infects people every year and is found typically in
people who have been in contact with pigs.
The Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry has taken steps to prevent
Swine Flu coming into Sri Lanka.
Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva has
instructed the Ministry Epidemiology Unit and alerts have been sent by
the unit to the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Colombo
harbour and all the other institutions to monitor passengers coming from
Mexico and the US, a Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry spokesman said.
He said the Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry Epidemiology Unit has
made special preparations to face any type of emergency situation. The
Unit was ready to face the Avian Influenza, Sars, Ebola and similar
diseases in the past.
But no epidemic hit Sri Lanka because of the well maintained
surveillance mechanism and high quality healthcare service of the
Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry, the spokesman said.
According to the spokesman the World Health Organisation (WHO) has
warned about a possibility of Swine Flu becoming a Global threat.
Considering this, the ministry took steps to alert all entry points such
as the BIA and the harbour.
The Swine Flu outbreak that hit Mexico last week killed 149 people
and infected hundreds more. Mexican authorities closed down museums and
schools for millions of students in and around the capital and urged the
people with flu symptoms to stay home from work, he added.
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