Influenza H3N2 has started to spread in Sri Lanka again during this season which is the second annual peak of the disease. This is a sub type of viruses that cause Influenza, Consultant Medical Virologist of the National Influenza Centre, of the Department of Virology, Medical Research Institute (MRI) Dr. C.J.S. Jayamaha said.

According to Dr. Jayamaha over 200 samples obtained from the patients had been tested and over 50 of them found positive for the virus





There are two annual peaks for the disease, one in May, June and July and the other in December, January and February. Dr. Jayamaha pointed out that the pregnant mothers should seek prompt medical treatment from a hospital or from a qualified doctor on the very first day of the onset of symptoms. Other vulnerable groups are adults over the age of 65, children bellow the age of two and the persons who suffer from chronic diseases such as chronic obstructive airways disease, diabetes, heart diseases etc.





The symptoms are similar to a normal flu symptoms such as runny nose, sore throat, cough, fever, headache, muscle pain etc. The preventive measures are, avoiding crowded places and events, washing hands with soap after returning home/office, using alcohol based sanitizers (when washing hands with soap is not possible), avoiding close contact with others (especially sick), covering face with a handkerchief/tissue before sneezing and coughing, washing handkerchief frequently/discarding used tissues safely etc, he added.