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| Wednesday, 2 March 2005 |
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Mystery disease identified by Bharatha Malawaraarachchi A high level team comprising two senior Ministry officials and two senior cardiologists yesterday came to the conclusion that the mystery disease spreading in the Badulla area is a mild form of myocarditis. They said this was a very mild form. There were no deaths or adverse effects on the heart due to this disease. The specialists urged Uva residents not to panic as this was not a critical disease. The team was sent to review the situation at the Badulla General Hospital on a directive by Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva. The team comprised Ministry Additional Secretary Dr. Nihal Jayathilake, Director General of Health Services Dr. Athula Kahandaliyange and two senior cardiologists Dr. Vajira Senaratne and Dr. S. Mithrakumar. "This is not a fatal disease. Neither is it highly infectious. There is no major issue here," Dr. Nihal Jayatillake assured in a telephone interview with the Daily News from Badulla last afternoon. Nearly 200 patients have obtained treatment for this disease over the past two months. "At present there are only 15 - 20 patients receiving treatment at this hospital. All others have been discharged after full recovery. There is no need to panic," added Dr. Jayathilake. "This is very mild form of myocarditis and there are no serious after effects," Dr. Mithrakumar said. "This is not dangerous," said Dr. Mithrakumar adding that he had seen a lot of similar patients in Colombo and the suburbs. "In a majority of cases it is in mild-form and even if affected, patients can recover by taking rest and proper medicine after consulting a doctor. This is not dangerous." Dr. Mithrakumar explained that early detection of the disease has helped patients to recover in a short period. "Credit should go to Dr. A. Pathirana, Consultant Cardiologist at the Badulla Hospital who had made early detections and treated patients accordingly." Meanwhile, a special WHO team will arrive tomorrow to assist Lankan health authorities to combat this disease which spread mainly in Badulla and Moneragala areas. |
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