Schoolchildren in Colombo fall prey to hepatitis

Shirley Wijesinghe

The majority of persons affected with hepatitis from Colombo are schoolgoing children, Colombo National Hospital sources said.

Sources confirmed 12 persons infected with hepatitis had been admitted for treatment.

Colombo Municipal Council Public Health Department Chief Medical Officer Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam said most schools in Modera and Mattakkuliya do not have basic sanitary facilities and this is one of the reasons for the increase in hepatitis in these areas.

"We have carried out several awareness programmes while inspections to educate the public on preventing the spread of the disease," Dr. Kariyawasam added.

Water samples collected from main waterlines responded negative for germs, Kariyawasam said. He said there was no need to fear about the quality of pipe-borne water in the city but requested to drink boiled water.

He appealed to the public to wash hands after using the toilet.

Dr. Kariyawasam also said there was a possibility in the rise of dengue in the Colombo city.