Flu Outbreak in Deniyaya: Four schools shut for two more days

• No risk of further spread; Health Ministry

Four schools in the Deniyaya Education Zone that were temporarily closed due to a rapidly spreading flu outbreak among schoolchildren will remain closed for two more days.

Deniyaya Zonal Education Director Nishaka Hettiarachchi said that the decision was taken on the recommendation of health authorities as a measure to control the spread of the illness.

Deniyaya Central College, Deniyaya Rajapaksha Maha Vidyalaya, Deniyaya St. Matthew’s Bilingual Maha Vidyalaya, and Pallegama Siddhartha Vidyalaya will remain closed today (11) and tomorrow (12).

The four schools in the Deniyaya Education Zone were initially closed temporarily on 7 and 8 May due to the rapid spread of the flu-like illness among students. Southern Province Education Secretary N.K.R. Pathirana said the decision to extend the closure was taken following health sector advice after considering the continued spread of the illness among students in the affected schools.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health and Mass Media stated yesterday (10) that the Epidemiology Unit had taken all measures to contain the viral meningitis infection within the Deniyaya area.

When contacted by The Daily Morning, Dr. Anil Jasinghe said that over 45 students had been infected with viral meningitis. He noted that they had been treated at the National (Teaching) Hospital Karapitiya and were recovering.

He said that an outbreak investigation had initially been carried out by the Regional Director of Health Services Office in Matara. The investigation was conducted by the Consultant Community Physician and the public health team.

Dr. Jasinghe said the infection was suspected to have spread mainly through a community water source. He noted that the disease could also spread due to the close proximity of children in schools, which was why the schools had been closed.

He further said that a team from the Epidemiology Unit in Colombo had also visited Deniyaya to investigate the situation. The disease would not spread further, he added.

Source - The Morning