Medical team on AH1N1 visits Central Province

Report on November 27:

Asela Kuruluwansa

A special medical team from Colombo which is on a fact finding mission on AH1N1 influenza in the Central Province visited schools and hospitals in the province.

The team consisting of two community health specialists joined their counterparts from the Central Province in the inspection tour and will submit their report on November 27.

Earlier the schools in the province were closed by the Central Provincial Council following reports of possible outbreak of the influenza disease especially among the schoolchildren.

The Provincial Health Services Director Dr. Shanthi Kannangara said 12 deaths from suspected novel influenza were reported in the Central Province and four of them confirmed as novel influenza deaths.

There are 37 patients seeking in-patient treatment with symptoms of novel influenza at Kandy and Peradeniya hospitals, Dr. Shanthi Samarasinghe said.