South Primary Sections, Schools closed to arrest influenza outbreak
View(s):Southern Province (SP) Primary Schools/Primary Section of schools will be closed till Wednesday (30), following an influenza outbreak spreading rapidly, especially among children.
Accordingly, Primary Sections (Grades 1-5) in 8 Education Zones (EZ) in the SP, will be closed to control the outbreak, said the SP Education Secretary.
Initially, the closure was to be on May 22 and 23, but was extended to 24, 25 and again on Monday (28). Schools in Galle, Matara, Akuressa, Mulatiyana, Tangalle, Walasmulla, Udugama and Morawaka EZs will be closed.
Health officials have requested parents to avoid sending their children to school, if they are suffering from flu symptoms such as fever, running nose, shortness of breath, difficulty in breathing, cough, sore throat, muscle and joint aches, headache, chills and fatigue and severe malaise (feeling unwell). Some patients may have diarrhea and vomiting too.
SP Education Ministry also urged pre-schools in the SP to be closed for a few days, to control the spread of the influenza. At present, hospitals in the SP are reporting large numbers of child patients. - NF