Reason for the death of 9 persons in Mulaitheevu – Infection of Influenza Type A,B: says Provincial Minister of Health

Nine people in Mulaitheevu had died of Influenza type A, B and these infections are caused by virus during Influenza related fever, said the Provincial Minister of Health, Dr.G.Gunaseelan. I think that this infection must have been caused by virus infection during breathing, he said. 9 people had lost their lives in Mulaitheevu, after being infected by un-identified type of fever, within the last 20 days.

Contacted over this the Provincial Minister said that, the  NPC Health Department had paid attention over this problem. The Infection Prevention unit and the Infection Analysis unit of Colombo were informed of the infection. They undertook studies here. According to the results of their studies Influenza virus type A,B is found to be the reason behind the deaths. We cannot come to a conclusion immediately that this is a life threatening infection.

30 people had been affected by this fever. Some of these affected had been admitted to Jaffna and Anuradshapura Hospitals which have better facilities to handle this infection. Some of them had returned home after healing. Others in Mullaitheevu who are being treated for this fever are kept in an isolated ward. They are out of danger. Their blood samples had been already been sent to Colombo, he said.