A total of 237 suspected meningitis cases have been reported from several parts of Sri Lanka, according to the Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health, an increase from the 203 cases reported a week ago.
Community Health Specialist Dr. Thushani Dabrera said most of the cases so far are believed to be viral meningitis infections. The first cases were detected on April 15 in Deniyaya, Matara district, with additional cases since reported from Rikillagaskada, Kandy, Badulla, Welimada and Diyatalawa. Schoolchildren account for most of the reported cases, the Ministry said.
As of yesterday, 59 patients remained hospitalised, while the rest had recovered and been discharged. The primary symptoms are fever, headache and vomiting, and viral meningitis typically resolves within a few days in most patients, Dr. Dabrera said.
Authorities have established special committees to investigate the outbreak and oversee control measures, the Health Ministry said, and the Ministries of Health and Education have issued special guidelines citing contaminated drinking water sources as a possible factor in the spread of the disease. The public has been urged to use clean, boiled and cooled drinking water and to ensure that children do not share food.
The Health Ministry updated the tally on June 3, NewsFirst reported, saying around 250 suspected meningitis patients have now been reported island-wide, with fewer than 50 currently hospitalised. Consultant Community Physician Dr. Harendra Dasanayake said the outbreak has now been identified as being driven by a virus from the Enterovirus group, and reiterated that proper health and hygiene practices remain the main preventive measure. Patients have been reported from Deniyaya, Rikillagaskada, Diyatalawa, Welimada and Kandy areas.
The case count has accelerated since April’s first reports at Deniyaya and the May health advisory covering four districts. The Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education has already circulated preventive measures to provincial education directors, and an Angunakolapelessa prison cluster was later confirmed to be influenza, not meningitis.
