Sri Lanka’s health officials on Thursday warned that a new virus affecting children was spreading in the island’s south and five deaths had already been reported. The Government Information Department quoting medical officials said the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital in Galle had been experiencing an increase in the number of patients who arrived with a fever over the past few days. Sri Lankan Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne urged those suffering from these symptoms to seek medical attention immediately. Health officials in the southern province said the staff at all divisions had been notified to identify the disease-affected areas. The epidemiology unit of the Health Ministry has also commenced a broad investigation into the deaths at the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital.

Source: Punch May 17, 2018 08:03 UTC