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Lanka on Red alert for Chikungunya, Zika
View(s):Health desks at airports take precautions after two deaths in Chilaw
By Chris Kamalendran
Sri Lanka’s entry and exit points, particularly the Bandaranaike International Airport and the Colombo Port, have been placed on high alert to prevent the spread of two deadly diseases raging in Asia. One is Chikungunya which is fast spreading in New Delhi. The other is the Zika virus prevalent in Singapore and now Thailand. Both are mosquito-borne diseases.
“The airport’s health desks have been told to caution passengers travelling to the affected countries,” Quarantine Director Dr. Palitha Karunaperuma told the Sunday Times. “We are also seeking the help of travel operators to educate them on the need to advise travellers to be extremely careful,” he said.
Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne confirmed there were threats from the two deadly diseases but declared that the state-run hospitals were being geared to cope with it. The warnings came as there were two reported deaths of pilgrims from Nallanrankatuwa in the Chilaw area. They had been admitted to the Chilaw Hospital with high temperature after they returned from India the same week.
The victims were identified as Sujatha Malani (65) and G.C. Ranmenike (66). One of the bodies was released only in a sealed coffin, while the hospital’s medical superintendent, Dr. Dinusha Fernando, said further investigations were under way.
The Quarantine Director said airlines operating to Singapore, India and Thailand had been told to exercise caution and report to health authorities, if there were any sick passengers.