First case of H1N1 flu detected in Sri Lanka UPDATES

by Suranee | June 16, 2009 at 07:29 pm

650 views | 22 Recommendations | 9 comments

UPDATE 2:

Another two people have been detected with swine flu. Both are relatives of the 8 year boy who came to Sri lanka from Australia. This puts the total number of reported swine flu cases in Sri Lanka to four.

COLOMBO, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Another two A/H1N1 flu cases have been detected in Sri Lanka, adding the total affected to four, the Sri Lankan government said Saturday.

The Department of Government Information said in a statement that the two new victims are also close relatives of the first A/H1N1 flu patient, an eight-year-old boy. All patients arrived in Sri Lanka from Australia last Sunday.

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UPDATE 1:

A six year boy is the second person in Sri lanka reported to have swine flu. The boy is a cousin of the 8-year-old boy confirmed carrying the A/H1N1 virus on Tuesday.

The second confirmed case of A/ H1N1 flu has been detected in Sri Lanka,the island's health officials said Wednesday.

A senior official from the Epidemiologi Unit of the Ministry of Health said the patient is a cousin of the 8-year-old boy confirmed carrying the A/H1N1 virus on Tuesday.

Visitors to Sri lanka are requested to fill a set of forms giving details of their health when entering Sri Lanka via the airport or harbor to detect whether they are carrying the virus.

Health Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva said that the government has decided to get a complete written report over the health condition of visitors when they reach the country through the airport or the harbour.

According to the Minister all visitors are required to fill a Health Information Form at the airport or the harbour and hand it over to Quarantine Department officials for screening.

The Health Ministry has already instructed the Department of Immigration and Emigration not to allow the visitors who fail to fill the form to enter the country.

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An eight year boy who arrived from Australia over the weekend is said to have swine flu. This is the first confirmed swine flu case in Sri lanka.

COLOMBO, June 16 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka has identified its first case of the H1N1 flu virus in a young patient who arrived from Australia over the weekend, the government said on Tuesday. "We have detected the first swine flu case in Sri Lanka. He is an 8-year-old Sri Lankan living in Australia. He has come to Sri Lanka via Singapore with a family of five. Only he has tested positively for H1N1 and is being treated," Health Minister Nimal Siripala DeSilva told reporters.

The boy's brother is said to also be infected with Swine Flu. He has been detained at the Singapore Airport on his way to Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, a brother of the sick boy has been detained at the Singapore Airport on his way to Sri Lanka. He has also been infected with Swine Flu, Singapore authorities have informed Sri Lankan authorities.

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Amy Judd

at 19:36 on June 16th, 2009

So there was no reported cases in Sri Lanka before this boy arrived?

This is really the last thing the country needs is any kind of outbreak.

Suranee

at 20:01 on June 16th, 2009

No there wasn't Amy.This is the first case that has been reported.

I wonder how many people have been infected by this boy since he arrived in Sri lanka. We already have a dengue outbreak. We definitely do not need this.

Sri Lanka Army news

at 21:22 on June 16th, 2009

Swine Flue-Sri Lanka

The first confirmed case of Novel Influenza A/H1N1 (formerly known as Swine Influenza) was reported from Sri Lanka last evening.

The patient is a 8 year old boy who is an Australian citizen who had arrived in the country from Australia on 14th June 2009 to attend a family function. His sister had been detected as a suspected case in Singapore when they arrived at the airport for transit on their way to Colombo. She was later identified as a confirmed case by the Singapore health authorities. Ministry of Health, Singapore duly informed the Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka on the information that the close contacts of the case in Singapore had arrived here.
Accordingly the Ministry of Health had taken the following measures

Measures have been taken to isolate immediate contacts who presented with symptoms in the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) for laboratory diagnosis and management.
All family members of the patient who had had contact with the patient but remain symptom less, have been kept under quarantine.
All the contacts with symptoms would be directed to IDH and other identified sentinel hospitals for laboratory diagnosis, treatment and isolation.
List of most of the passengers who arrived in the flight from Singapore to Colombo with the index case have been obtained through the Airport Health Desk and traced through the respective regional epidemiologists and medical officers of health. Action has been initiated to quarantine.
Other passengers on that flight are also being traced.
All heads of sentinel hospitals and regional epidemiologists have been updated on the present situation and all the necessary drugs and items for effective management of cases have been stockpiled in adequate amounts.
Health staff of the IDH which is the primary sentinel hospital for management of these cases have been kept ready for any appropriate responses for the evolving situation.
National Hospital of Sri Lanka, Colombo South Teaching Hospital and North Colombo Teaching Hospital have been identified as the next level referral hospitals for management of cases and have been prepared for necessary responses.
New developments will be closely monitored and updates will be provided accordingly.
A media conference was held on 16th June, to alert the public on situation.

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Suranee

at 22:31 on June 16th, 2009

Thank you for the update Sri lanka Army News.

Watcher of the Skiez

at 17:26 on June 17th, 2009

This is only a mild form of H1N1 a.k.a. mexican a.k.a. swine flu. There are expectations from the WHO that a much heavier variant of the virus will strike much harder during the wintertime around the world. If countries don't take action to get vaccins now there could be a real disaster for it's civilians in 6 to 7 months time as the virus now is spreading from human to human!

Sri Lanka doesn't realize that this could be far more worse than the people killed during this last war, because H1N1 doesn't make a difference between a buddhist, hindu, christian or muslem !

All the more reason to allow aid organisations free access so they can help Sri Lanka to avoid a catastrophy especially in the internmentcamps and Jaffna where rumours were heard that civilians were also in a hospital on suspected H1N1 virus!

Suranee

at 18:50 on June 17th, 2009

I don't think that the Sri Lanka health officials will be able to control the spread of the swine flu virus on their own. They will need help from international health aid organizations as you've mentioned. And yes, it does not matter what religious background one is from, because anyone can get the virus.

I did not know there is talk about some of the civilians held in the camps having H1N1. If you do come across any confirmed news about it I do hope you will post it here at NowPublic.

Jesus Singhe (not verified)

at 09:06 on June 22nd, 2009

This decease can be cured only by Roman Catholics.

Sri Lanka Army news

at 01:04 on June 22nd, 2009

First child with H1N1 flu is cured of it & discharged from hospital; three other patients likely to be discharged in few days-Dr IDH Hospital-Sri Lanka - 2009-06-22 09:16:23