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The Health Ministry has appointed a committee from the Medical Research Institute (MRI) and the Family Health Bureau (FHB), to investigate the death of Ashoka Dissanayake (39), who died following confinement at the Matara General Hospital. Medical Superintendent of the Matara General Hospital, Dr. Samindi Samarakoon, said the mother had died of pneumonia as she had contracted the AHINI virus.
Hospital sources said yesterday (17), that the team of doctors would arrive from Colombo to investigate the death.
Health Ministry sources said that the team had been deployed as routine because the reason for the mother’s death was clear and would be established during the post mortem. The Health Ministry has informed the public that the AHINI virus was nothing to worry about and that it presented little risk, with bed rest and prompt treatment. "However, we have also warned of a risk group, who include pregnant mothers, infants, sufferers of chronic diseases and the aged," they said. Those who have died so far, have been within the risk group; a child with chronic respiratory infection, an infant and now a mother who had just given birth.
Reiterating the warning to those who belong to the risk groups and the public at large, sources said that those who have severe head ache, with fever for more than two days, joint pain, and throat infection should seek urgent medical attention from the nearest government hospital or a renowned medical officer. Infants and children may develop diarrhoea and vomiting and may die of dehydration while those with chronic diseases may develop pneumonia as a result of swine flu, they said.
