Courtesy NewsIn.Asia

Colombo, May 31 (newsin.asia) – Sri Lanka’s health officials on Thursday said 14 children had died from a viral fever which was spreading in southern Sri Lanka and urged the public to take health safety measures to prevent its spread.

Director of the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital, in southern Sri Lanka, Dr. Jayampathi Senanayake told newsin.asia that out of the 14 deaths, 13 were reported in Karapitiya while one was reported in Colombo.

All children who had died had been below 2 years of age.

According to doctors, the symptoms of the virus include fever, cough, cold and headache. The patients then develop breathing problems which leads to pneumonia.

Dr. Senanayake said that at present 49 patients were admitted at the Karapitiya Hospital, with the suspected viral fever. Out of the 49, 4 were adults while the remaining were children. None of the patients were in a serious condition.

Dr. Senanayake added the hospital had taken all precautionary measures to curb the spread of the viral flu. He however urged the public to seek immediate medical attention if they develop a fever.

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, on Wednesday instructed health authorities to take immediate measures to control the spread of the viral flu.

The President instructed officials to strengthen the relevant mechanism without concerns about finances and to appoint additional nurses and other health service staff to the relevant hospitals as needed.

Health officials earlier declared that the viral flu was caused by the Influenza and Adino viruses and affects children who are less than two years old.