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| Tuesday, 21 December 2004 |
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by Bharatha Malawaraarachchi The Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry yesterday categorically stated that the mystery illness in the southern parts of the country was a type of influenza which had no links with Bird Flu or SARS. "There is no need to panic. This has been identified as an influenza B type disease. It is not related to Bird Flu or SARS. We have taken all precautionary measures," Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva told a press briefing yesterday. He said two high level teams comprising medical specialists have conducted research and testing to identify the mystery illness spreading in Matara, Padanangala and Embilipitiya. Two teams, one from the Medical Research Institute (MRI) and another from the Public Health Department had conducted extensive investigations. So far, eight deaths have been reported by the disease. Fifteen suspected cases have been recorded. "There is no need to fear. A similar outbreak occurred in Colombo and its environs in 1998," senior Epidemiologist Dr. N. Abeysinghe said adding that they have implemented several universally adopted precautionary measures to control respiratory diseases. He said medical investigations conducted by the MRI had confirmed that this was due to Influenza B. "At the same time, it is very difficult to tell the exact number of infected cases due to the common symptoms. However, we are now implementing our precautionary measures having identified this as influenza B." Dr. Geethani Wickremesinghe, a virologist at the MRI said this is not a mystery disease. "This has been found since 1919 and it is fairly common." She explained that the complications are mostly found in very young and old people and death could occur mostly among these groups. She said steps have been taken to send samples to Hong Kong and Australia for further testing. *** Health officials advise the public in the affected areas to meet a doctor if they have symptoms such as fever, cough, laboured breathing and body pains. They advise suspected patients to take paracetamol but not to take aspirin. |
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