Warning on influenza virus

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka health officials are warning the public against a suspected sub variant of the influenza virus that is spreading in the country amid a spike in dengue, and ire asking that flu vaccines be given to pregnant women.

Suspected case of the diseases has risen sharply in the last two months.

“Many has fallen ill in the past two month and indicates high fever which is the main symptom,” Consultant physician at Castle street hospital, Nandana Dikmadugoda told reporters.

“The symptoms that has been observed so far, shows that this virus cause problem mainly to the respiratory system.

“Most the patients give similar symptoms such as cough, swollen glands, pain in the ear etc. We have not identified the exact virus that is spreading but we believe it to be a sub variant of the Influenza virus.”