Outbreak of contagious diseases in Batticaloa district

By Damitha Hemachandra

January 08, 2005

The Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry yesterday reported the increasing number of contagious diseases from Batticaloa health administrative division.
The daily assessment report issued by the Epidemiology unit recorded Two hundred and two patients with watery diarrhoea and 419 of respiratory tract infections among 16,319 displaced population in Batticaloa while fourteen patients with dysentery and 3 patients with hepatitis too had been monitored.
According to epidemiology unit sources the increase of diseases are mainly due to lack of clean drinking water and proper sanitary conditions, which are yet to reach the eastern coast of Sri Lanka.
Although there had been water cleaning systems provided to hospitals by some foreign agencies, many displaced at temporary camps do not receive clean drinking water due to unclean wells and the damage to the water supply system.
The unit also reported a trend of chickenpox, mumps and measles among the inhabitants of the temporary shelters in the affected areas, raising concerns of a possible outbreak and requirement of mass vaccination.
Another fear of influenza out break, which was present in Matara and Hambantota raising its head was raised when the number of patients with fever and symptoms of cold reported from the tsunami stuck areas as well as central Sri Lanka increased within the last few days.
Two deaths due to same symptoms had been reported from Matale while extractions from their respiratory track were directed to the Medical Research Institute yesterday.
Meanwhile the Health Services Trade Union Alliance (HSTUA) yesterday called for improved facilities for the volunteers engaged in clearance in the coastal areas.
Most of the volunteers and paid workers in clearance work do not have enough protection gear like masks, gloves and boots to protect them of diseases prevalent in the tsunami hit areas.
Spokesman for HSTUA said that many of these clearance workers and villagers involved in clearance work had reported of skin disease and rash in hands and legs. "Although there is a slow supply of masks, gloves and boots it is not enough to go around," he said calling for the public, donors and government to provide safety gear.