Lanka geared to tackle swine flu

Nadira Gunatilleke

A Special Health Ministry team is on hand at the Bandaranaike International Airport and the Colombo Port to detect patients with swine flu arriving from abroad.

Passengers arriving from Mexico, US, UK, Spain, New Zealand, Canada and other affected countries will be monitored, a Ministry spokesman said.

Suspected passengers will be directed to the Epidemiology Unit for further examination and confirmation and clearance.

The Ministry earlier requested the public to minimize foreign trips to prevent swine flu entering Sri Lanka.

According to the spokesman, the Ministry has allocated 'Isolation Wards' each in 20 main hospitals and also provided facilities to carry out medical tests, relevant drugs and medical equipment to all hospitals to face a possible outbreak.

Arrangements have also been made to raise awareness among the public and especially among health staff through leaflets.

The Ministry also said the thermal scanner will be put into operation at the airport within the next few days just after software is received from Singapore.

"This thermal scanner only detect persons with fever and not Swine Flu. Persons with Swine flu are being detected by a special team deployed by the Ministry to observe all passengers arriving from all affected countries. This system does not rely on thermal scanners," the spokesman said.

Swine Flu (a new strain of Influenza A H1N1) can spread among human beings easily.

The symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of influenza.

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Pork sales drop in Attanagalle

J. Sugathapala Attangalla special corr.

Pork sales has seen a reduction in Attanagalle following reports of swine flu. Meat stall owners say that sales in Nittambuwa, Thihariya and Veyangoda areas have dropped 25 percent.

However, health authorities said all measures have been taken to block swine flu from entering the country

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