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| Sunday, 5 January 2003 |
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Public warned of new health risk in Jaffna by Carol Aloysius Health officials have warned members of the public visiting Jaffna to take precautions against a new unidentified viral disease that has spread in the Jaffna district . The disease which has already claimed around twenty five lives in Jaffna city, is reported to be reaching epidemic levels. Health officials said that the majority of patients had first developed high fever which lasted for a period of about ten days, subsequently resulting in pneumonia, a confused state of mind, and liver failure. During the last stages of this mysterious illness, most of the patients had developed renal failure which ended in death. "We are still investigating the causes of this viral disease to deal with an effective treatment. However, we request any person who develops a temperature which lasts for several days to immediately seek medical attention", a spokesman for the Health Department said. Health officials also expressed concern that the disease , if not controlled immediately, could spread to other areas in the Northern province. "We are doing our best to take all preventive steps to control the disease. A top level team of health officials have already visited Jaffna and inspected the affected areas as soon as we heard the news. "Another team of experts is expected to visit the district very soon, in order to take remedial steps", the spokesman said. So far the disease is said to be mostly centred on the Jaffna city and its suburbs with the highest number of patients reported to be living near the Jaffna teaching hospital. In addition to the new viral flu, Jaffna residents are also facing an epidemic of dengue caused by the increase in the mosquito population and typhoid which is a food and water borne disease, health sources told the Sunday Observer. Health officials have warned all visitors to Jaffna to drink only boiled water and well cooked food and to use mosquito repellents and mosquito nets. The current hot spell of weather, poor living conditions and the regular visits to Jaffna by people living outside the city may have contributed towards this fresh outbreak of diseases, according to informed sources. |
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