Sri Lanka has not still received an alert on the Influenza outbreak in India, Acting Director General of Health Services Dr. J.M.W.Jayasundara Bandara said.
Meanwhile, a Consultant Epidemiologist attached to the Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry Dr. Samitha Ginige said that it is only the seasonal Influenza A (H1N1) and Sri Lanka experienced the same outbreak in April, May, June season. “Now, Sri Lanka has fully controlled it but the country’s surveillance system is in place all the time in order to track down a possible outbreak,” Dr.Ginige said.
“The outbreak circulates in countries in this region from time to time,” he said.
There is nothing unusual in this situation and there is no reason to panic,” he added.
We collect samples from all over the country in Sri Lanka and are ready to face an outbreak at any time. But,so far there is no signs of an Influenza outbreak in Sri Lanka,” Dr. Ginige added.
Recently, the BBC and other International media reported that the number of deaths that occured in India recently due to Influenza A (H1N1) had exceeded 1000.