News

Vavuniya Prison closed due to spread of disease

Published

2 months ago

August 1, 2023

editor

The prison authorities have decided yesterday (31) to close down the Vavuniya Prison until August 15 with immediate effect.

The prison has been closed on the advice of the health authorities after six inmates of the prison contracted a disease similar to smallpox and several other suspected patients were found.

All the inmates in the prison have been given necessary treatment and medicines for smallpox and all the inmates have also been vaccinated.

Health authorities said if it’s smallpox, it can be contracted from a foreigner even though it has been eradicated from the country.

The authorities said that they will conduct extensive investigations to identify the disease.

The health authorities of Vavuniya have visited the prison and observed the situation. They have given instructions to the prison officials who said that the situation could aggravate due to the presence of a large number of inmates.

A prison official said that several requests were made to reduce the number of inmates or to improve the facilities of the prison due to insufficient space, but there was no positive response from the authorities.

Source – lankasara

News

Number of rabies deaths on the rise

Published

17 mins ago

September 21, 2023

editor

The Ministry of Health said that the number of people who have died from rabies has increased in the last few years.

Dr. Heshan Guruge, medical officer of the Anti-Rabies Division, said that the lack of knowledge about rabies as well as the bites of animals other than dogs have led to the increase in these deaths.

Dr. Guruge expressed these views while attending a discussion held yesterday (20) at the Health Promotion Bureau in conjunction with the World Rabies Day on September 28.

“When studying the human deaths that happened in the last few years due to rabies, we can see that a number of animals other than dogs have bit them. In some cases, it is not even possible to know who the animal is. Several people who had passed out after being drunk had been bitten by some animal. After a few days, the symptoms of rabies develop. Several such incidents were reported in the last two or three years. Proper first aid should be given in case of any animal bite. Wash the wound with soap and water. If you have alcohol at home, an iodine solution like betadine, surgical spirit, or an antiseptic liquid like hydrogen peroxide, you can use it. Then go to a hospital. If we do this, we can eliminate rabies from Sri Lanka,” he said.

Don’t get closer to new pets for two weeks

Meanwhile, Dr. Athula Liyanapathirana, community specialist of the Epidemiology Unit, said that 12 people have died due to rabies in 2023 so far.

He said that there is a risk of contracting rabies from the bites of all mammals.

The Anti-rabies Unit said that 25 to 30 people die from rabies every year.

The Epidemiology Unit requested the people not to get closer to pets such as dogs and cats for 14 days after bringing them home.

Arrangements should be made to vaccine the dogs against rabies before a period of four weeks has passed.

When bitten by a dog, the area should be washed and cleaned with soap for ten minutes, and after that it is important to seek medical treatment immediately.