Sri Lanka handled Swine Flu well - WHO

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

The WHO commended the Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry for very successful handling of first AH1N1 (Swine Flu) cases. The Ministry took all possible steps and managed the situation within 24 hours and acted quickly.

This is not a killer virus and there is no need to panic or overreact, WHO representative to Sri Lanka Dr. Firdosi Rustom Mehta said. Dr. Mehta was addressing a special press briefing held at the Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry yesterday. He said that media should not over react and the public should not panic because AH1N1 is not a `killer virus'.

Sri Lanka was prepared to face the disease after the outbreak was reported from Mexico for the first time on April and 20 hospitals were prepared to treat patients.

The AH1N1 Network of Sri Lanka is in place since then. The term 'pandemic' means that the whole world is affected. There are over 39600 AH1N1 cases reported up to June 17 and the number of confirmed deaths are 167.

According to Dr.Mehta the virus mainly spreads through international travel. Sri Lanka is very lucky because it has only one international harbour and airport. But a country like India has a serious problem with 38 ports.