Influenza virus threat:

Keep away from gatherings - Health Ministry

Dharma Sri Abeyratne

People are advised not to participate in gatherings during the festive season as a precaution against contacting the AH1N1 Influenza virus, the Health Ministry warned.

Mingling with people in crowded places may lead to contacting the virus, the Health Ministry further said.

Infants, breast-feeding mothers, pregnant women asthmatics, diabetics and hypertension patients and elderly persons should follow precautionary measures as they are in the danger group.

So far 35 deaths and 518 confirmed cases of Novel Influenza have been reported in Sri Lanka. The World Health Organization has taken steps to send two million vaccines of AH1N1 to Sri Lanka as a grant.

The first batch will be received in January, WHO representative in Sri Lanka Firdosi Rustom Mehta said.

Novel Influenza symptoms are similar to that of any other viral flu. These include fever, cough, headaches, chills, body aches, sore throat and fatigue. Vomiting and diarrhoea have also been reported.

Other virus can also cause these symptoms. To diagnose the disease a lab test is required.

The virus can pass through an infected person’s lungs, throat or nose, sending out particles into the air. The other way the virus spreads is from touching surfaces that are contaminated with the virus and then touching your eyes, mouth or nose,Director of the Epidemiology Unit Dr. Paba Palihawadana said.