Pandemic Responses & activities

Sri Lanka

Activities initiated in Sri Lanka• A Fact sheet (English pdf),(Sinhala pdf) has been prepared and distributed to all

government and private health institutions, provincial and regional directors of health, regional epidemiologists, medical officers/maternal & child health and medical officers of health motivating them to suspect illness according to the case definitions developed by the WHO, giving instructions for notification.

• A health alert has been sent to all government and private health institutions to initiate surveillance of suspected cases and collection of laboratory samples.

• A special alert with guidelines has been sent to Airport health officer and the Port health officer to initiate specified vigilance and surveillance activities at these entry points.

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Activities…. contd

• Steps have been taken to strengthen the already available stocks of anti viral drugs and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at the identified sentinel hospitals

• Two Laboratory technologists were trained at NIH Thailand on real time PCR assay in early June.

1st confirmed case reported on 16/6/09.

• Immediate contacts who presented with symptoms were isolated at IDH for laboratory investigations & Management. Prophylaxis treatment was initiated.

• Home quarantine of all family members of the patient who remained symptom less done

• Initiated contact tracing & strengthened screening mechanism at the Airport.

-Distribution of health declaration forms, -Strengthening the staff at health Desk at the Air port etc•

Two meetings were held at Ministry level & discussed strengths & weaknesses on different aspects on surveillance, Laboratory diagnosis, case management & communication .

Summary of Pandemic flu cases

• 71/229 were Positive• 71 from r RT PCR, DFT -10• 62 arrivals from abroad, 28 from Aus, 8-UK, 9-

Middle Eastern, 4-USA, 2 from- India, Sing, Thailand, Malaysia, 4 transit Passengers

• 9-local transmission, Family/ close contacts• All Mild to moderate infection, No deaths • Sex F:M =1:1, Predominant Age 11-20• HKU- all 10 positives confirmed, No mutations in 274

gene