Health authority warns influenza outbreak

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 01 December 2010, 09:35 GMT]
Sri Lankan Health Ministry has taken steps to control outbreak of influenza A (H1N1) epidemic in the country. 133 patients had been detected from all parts of the island since October this year.

Five patients were detected in October and 35 in November so far. But no death due to A (H1N1) had been reported so far, health department sources said.

Meanwhile the health ministry has received 1.2 million vaccines for A (H1N1) from World health organization (WHO) as a donation and has been distributed to all government hospitals.

The Medical Research Institute (MRI) recently detected A H1N1 patients from all provinces.

The Antibiotic which protects farmers from Rat Fever (leptospirosis) is available with all MOHs, PHIs and state hospitals.

The farmers should obtain the antibiotic before commencing agricultural work and it will protect them for two weeks, medical officials told media.

Farmers who suffer from fever for more than three days should seek medical treatment from a hospital immediately to avoid complications caused by rat fever, health authorities have warned.