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Sri Lanka: Influenza 2015 - 75 deaths

[h=2]Fast spreading viral infection identified as A1H1N1[/h] 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.

http://www.news.lk/news/sri-lanka/item/7869-fast-spreading-viral-infection-identified-as-a1h1n1
 
Source: http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=local/ah1n1-claims-seven-lives-143-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...
 
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 [SUP]0 C[/SUP] 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
 
[h=1]Eight pregnant women among 24 flu deaths[/h] 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.



http://www.sundaytimes.lk/150614/news/eight-pregnant-women-among-24-flu-deaths-153391.html
 
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.
...
https://www.ceylontoday.lk/51-96111-news-detail-a-h1n1-kills-24-to-date.html
 
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.
...
http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2015/06/28/sri-lankans-warned-about-h1n1-virus/
 
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.
...
http://www.epid.gov.lk/web/images/pdf/wer/2016/vol_43_no_02-english.pdf
 
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