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Uva virus samples to US
By Apsara Kapukotuwa
Samples from patients suffering from myocarditis in Badulla are to be taken to the United States for analysis. The epidemic, which began in January this year, centering on Badulla in the Uva province is now showing signs of abating.

In keeping with the tendency shown the previous week, the number of patients are now showing a marked decrease. The World Health Organization, which sent a team of epidemiologists and microbiologists to the area, was recently in the forefront of trying to pinpoint the cause of this epidemic, which has remained elusive so far. The local epidemiological unit was also conducting investigations.

The WHO team is due to leave Badulla today. The identification would only serve an academic purpose and aid in virological surveillance of future outbreaks.

The new combination of symptoms of the form of myocarditis in Badulla are fever, breathing difficulties, dizziness and chest pain. The fact that similar epidemics have not occurred, the change in patient profile and the varying severity are all reasons for the delay in pinpointing the virus. The other factors are that no acute heart failures resulting in deaths have occurred, while the majority of the patients recover fast as the infection is of short duration.

The myocarditis prevalent in the Badulla area has affected people from different walks of life, gender and social backgrounds though the age group was mainly confined to adolescents and young adults.

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