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Sri Lanka: Influenza 2015 - 75 deaths

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  • Sri Lanka: Influenza 2015 - 75 deaths

    Three of them are in ICU and the others have been transferred to a special ward and one is a expectant mother

    http://www.pressreader.com/sri-lanka...42996/TextView
    Last edited by tetano; June 14, 2015, 12:43 AM.

  • #2
    Fast spreading viral infection identified as A1H1N1

    Health authorities have called on the public to be cautious about a viral infection that fast spreading in the country. It has been emphasized that the Medical Research Institute has identified it as A`H1N1 and not bird flu.

    Health Services Director General Dr. Maheepala Herath called on the public to seek immediate proper medical treatment if they come across symptoms of the disease such as fever, cough, sore throat, vomiting and body ache.


    He made this appeal at the discussion held at the Health Ministry to deliberate the measures that should be taken with regard to the A/H1N1 influenza which is rampant in the country.


    It was further pointed out that A/H1N1 was highly infectious and people should avoid crowded places as far as possible because one person could pass the infection to another through coughing or sneezing.


    Dr. Maheepala said the Medical Supplies Division has been advised to provide all necessary drugs to the hospitals to contain the disease.


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    • #3
      Source: http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=local/ah1...cases-reported

      Thursday, May 28, 2015 (All day)
      Local
      AH1N1 claims seven lives; 143 cases reported
      Chief symptoms: Runny nose, sore throat, cough, fever, headache, muscle pain
      Prompt treatment advised
      Nadira Gunatilleke

      There were 143 Influenza AH1N1 cases and seven deaths reported from different parts of the country from January to May this year. Deaths have been reported from Kalubowila, Gampaha, Balapitiya, Badulla and Kegalle hospitals, Director General, Health Services, Dr. Palitha Mahipala said. Addressing the media at a special press briefing held at the Epidemiology Unit Auditorium yesterday, Dr. Mahipala said that there is an impending Influenza AH1N1 outbreak in the country at the moment and people should be educated on preventive measures...

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      • #4
        Influenza update
        New Cases of influenza continue to be reported from all areas of the country. By the third week of May 2015, the Medical Research Institute has tested 252 samples positive for influenza; influenza A - 170 and influenza B – 82.

        Current situation of seasonal influenza in Sri Lanka
        ...

        Burden of influenza in Sri Lanka
        During the first week of March 2015, seven suspectedcases of influenza were reported to the Epidemiology Unit from Thissamaharama, which included five pregnant women and two children. Of the pregnant women two were positive for influenza A. However, on further investigation the cases were found to be geographically scattered.
        Cases of influenza continue to be reported from all areas of the country. This year up to the third week of May, the Medical Research Institute has tested 252 samples positive for influenza; influenza A - 170 and influenza B – 82. Out of the 78 influenza A cases that were sub typed there had been 42 Influenza A H1N1 cases (National Influenza Center 2015). It was also noted that four pregnant women who died during the months of April and May have been found to be positive for influenza A.

        Sentinel site surveillance of influenza
        Epidemiology Unit, Sri Lanka conducts influenza sentinel sites surveillance at 19 selected hospitals in order to check the current circulating viral pattern. Surveillance is carried out for Influenza Like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI). ILI is defined as an acute respiratory illness with measured temperature 38 0 C or more and cough, with onset within the past ten days. SARI is defined as requiring hospitalization in addition to the features of ILI (WHO 2014). Samples of nasopharyngeal aspirates are collected up to 10 per month from ILI patients and up to 05 per month from SARI patients.
        Of the 111 ILI samples collected during March 2015, 07 samples were positive for influenza A (influenza A H1N1 – 05, influenza A H3N2 01, un-typed – 01) and 11 samples were positive for influenza B. Among the 19 SARI samples received during March 2015, 01 has been positive for influenza A H3N3.
        It was noted that from March 2015 to April 2015, the number of total SARI patients reported has increased by about 1%.
        Last Updated on Wednesday, 27 May 2015 04:29
        http://www.epid.gov.lk/web/index.php...public&lang=en
        Twitter: @RonanKelly13
        The views expressed are mine alone and do not represent the views of my employer or any other person or organization.

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        • #5
          Eight pregnant women among 24 flu deaths

          By Chrishanthi Christopher
          View(s):
          The outbreak of a flu caused by H1N1 virus has killed 24 people, including eight pregnant women, and is spreading, a senior health official said yesterday. The Health Ministry?s Epidemiology Unit Senior Registrar, Dr. Athula Liyanapathirana, said the Southern Province had been the worst affected with two pregnant women from Karapitiya and Balapitiya succumbing to the virus.
          Six more cases of pregnant women dying after contracting the flu were also reported from Hambantota, Galle, Dharga Town, Kegalle, Batticaloa and Kalubowila. At least 130 suspected cases have been reported from 19 districts. ?Most of the patients are elderly and those with a compromised immune system because of old age and chronic diseases,? Dr. Liyanapathirana said.
          He noted that the deaths had occurred because of the patients? failure to seek treatment early. Pregnant women with flu like symptoms should seek medical treatment immediately while children under 2 years and people above 65 years must see a doctor within 48 hours, Dr. Liyanapathirana said.
          Meanwhile, the outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in South Korea is causing worries among relatives of some 26,000 Sri Lankans living there. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the virus has killed 14 people and infected 138 in three weeks, since it was first diagnosed on May 20. The WHO has described the outbreak as ?large and complex?.
          The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLFBE) said the South Korean Health Ministry was taking maximum measures to curb the spread of the disease and there was little cause for worry. ?The Sri Lankans living there have been advised on the precautionary measures that they should take to avoid contracting the disease,? Additional General Manager Mangala Randeniya said.



          The outbreak of a flu caused by H1N1 virus has killed 24 people, including eight pregnant women, and is spreading, a senior health official said yesterday. The

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          • #6
            25 Swine Influenza patients identified at Vavuniya
            [ Wednesday, 17 June 2015, 12:29.04 PM GMT +05:30 ]
            Doctor of the Vavuniya hospital Sudharshani Vickneswaran announced 25 patients suffer from Swine Influenza currently receiving treatment at the hospital.
            According to the doctor 25 years old pregnant mother suffered from influenza fever died in the hospital.
            ...
            Twitter: @RonanKelly13
            The views expressed are mine alone and do not represent the views of my employer or any other person or organization.

            Comment


            • #7
              Ceylontoday, 2015-06-21 02:00:00 Read 23 Times
              A-H1N1 kills 24 to date...

              BY Cassendra Doole


              At least 24 deaths have been positively identified as being caused by the rampaging influenza virus A-H1N1 over the past few months islandwide,the Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health said yesterday.
              Epidemiology Unit sources said 10 of the 24 victims had been pregnant women. They added that any pregnant woman develops flu-like symptoms she should immediately seek medical care.
              ...
              Twitter: @RonanKelly13
              The views expressed are mine alone and do not represent the views of my employer or any other person or organization.

              Comment


              • #8
                Sri Lankans Warned About H1N1 Virus
                Pregnant mothers with suspected influenza symptoms should be referred to specialist care immediately and The H1N1 infleunza spreads seasonally especially during May, June and July and again during November and December


                By Nirmala Kannangara
                Pregnant mothers, children under two years of age and elders above 65 years and those who have chronic diseases are being advised to take medication immediately if they get symptoms such as body aches, cough, sore throat, flue, headache, running nose and diarrhoea. These can be the symptoms of seasonal flue caused by the H1N1 virus, Senior Registrar Epidemiology Unit Dr Athula Liyanapathirana cautioned the public.
                ...
                The H1N1 virus causes the disease and 40 deaths have been reported island-wide by last week Thursday morning. Dr Liyanapathirana said 11 deaths have been reported from the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital alone.
                ...
                He further said that pregnant mothers with suspected influenza symptoms should be referred to specialist care immediately. According to Dr Liyanapathirana, all patients should seek medical attention if they develop any signs of progressive disease or if they have not recovered 72 hours of the onset of the symptoms after taking treatments.
                ...
                Twitter: @RonanKelly13
                The views expressed are mine alone and do not represent the views of my employer or any other person or organization.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Influenza virus fever drifts away. But with a death toll claims 41 lives
                  The Influenza viral flu termed A1 H1 N1 viral flu has
                  appeared to drift away after thousands were affected island wide.
                  ...
                  Twitter: @RonanKelly13
                  The views expressed are mine alone and do not represent the views of my employer or any other person or organization.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Flashback 2015 (Part II)

                    This is the second in the series of two articles on
                    the activities carried out by the Epidemiology
                    Unit during the preceding year
                    Year 2015 is a significant year as far as seasonal
                    influenza was concerned. The country
                    experienced a massive outbreak during the
                    months of June, July and August resulting in 75
                    influenza associated deaths and 14 maternal
                    deaths.
                    A health education campaign including
                    TV spots, posters, road shows, lectures for
                    health staff, publishing fact sheets on the Epidemiology
                    Unit Website and distributing leaflets
                    among general public on influenza prevention
                    and control was launched. The circular on influenza
                    prevention and control was revised to include
                    latest facts on the disease. The high demand
                    for antiviral (Oseltamivir) and personal
                    protective equipment ( 95 N masks) was met
                    without stock outs, while regulating it?s distribution
                    by the Epidemiology Unit.
                    Influenza surveillance system (ILI and SARI)
                    was strengthened through continued services of
                    surveillance officers (pre intern medical officers
                    at SARI sites and the National Influenza CenterMRI),
                    training staff at sentinel hospitals and
                    maintaining adequate supplies of reagents for
                    RTPCR at the MRI and visits to the sentinel hospitals
                    by the Epidemiology Unit staff. The influenza
                    surveillance system was critically reviewed
                    by a team of members from the CDC Atlanta,
                    USA.
                    ...
                    Twitter: @RonanKelly13
                    The views expressed are mine alone and do not represent the views of my employer or any other person or organization.

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