Trincomalee Food Poisoning-Majority Who Were Hospitalized Not Poisoned?

One Died and Around 262 People including School Children were Hospitalized yesterday in the Town of Trincomalee of the Eastern Province due to food poisoning.

However later in the day it was found that only Four Fishermen including the deceased were food poisoning after consuming the contaminated Egg Buns and Fish Buns bought from a Bakery in Trincomalee Town.260 out of 262 admitted to the Trincomalee General Hospital were discharged yesterday evening after found they are not showing any Symptoms related to food poisoning.Majority of these are School Children who were admitted after their Principles Fear them by telling those who consumed Bread and Buns that day should be careful following the food poisoning case.
According to the Ministry Of Health Most of these School Children came to the Hospital by stating they felt sick after consuming Buns but Doctors discharged them later after proved nothing wrong with them.Meanwhile another Three Fishermen who are consumed Egg and Fish Buns were still in the Hospital along with two School Children and their conditions are stable according to the Hospital Sources.
The Bakery which sold these contaminated Buns was sealed yesterday as soon as this food poisoning case was reported and the samples of the Bun Products are due to send to the Medical Research Institute in Colombo this evening to identify the Germ contaminated with.Ministry Of Health has already instructed the Trincomalee Provincial Health Director to take stern action against those who are responsible for selling contaminated Buns.

Another Two Girl Students Were Hospitalized For Allergic Symptoms Of Rubella

While the Inquiry Report on death of the Girl Student of Saint Thomas Girl's School at Matara who died after receiving Rubella Vaccine is to be handover to the Health Minister by tomorrow another two Girl Students were hospitalized yesterday after showing allergic symptoms towards the Rubella Vaccine.

The two Girl Students one is from North Central Province and other one is from Matara in the southern Sri Lanka are still receiving treatment and their conditions are not serious according to the Hospital Sources.

Meanwhile During the Inquiry held on Rubella Vaccine Incident which One Girl Student died and 24 other Girl Students were affected revealed that the Three Medical Officers Of Health(MOH) attached to the Matara MOH Office which was conducted the Rubella Vaccination Programme were not there at the School to supervise the Immunization Programme.'Normally this kind of Vaccination is conducting under the Supervision of a MOH.But this occasion none of the three MOH'S were present there and they sent Registered Medical Officer(RMO) to Immunizing the children" Health Secretery Dr.Athula Kahanda Liyanage said today.

"We are looking into these lapses also.However a stern action over those who are responsible for Vaccine Failure over 25 Girl Students will be taken after examining of the Inquiry Report"he stressed.The Report of the Inquiry conducted by a team of Epidemiologists of the Epidemiologists Unit is to be handover to the Sri Lankan Health Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva by tomorrow morning.

The funeral of the deceased Girl Student who became a victim of the Rubella Vaccine Pashala Hansani(12) was held this evening at Matara.The National Rubella Vaccination Programme was temporarily suspended since last friday following the Student's death.

Meanwhile Health Minister Nimal Siripala who is also the President of the Executive Committee of the World Health Organization(WHO)Invited Three Specialists on Vaccines to the Island to conduct an Independant Inquiary on the Rubella Vaccination Incident and already one Indian Specialist arrived to the Island this evening.Other two specialists are due to arrive here by tomorrow.

Security Of Air Ports In Kerala Tightened After LTTE Threats

Security of all Air Ports in the Indian State of Kerala was tightened after "Air India" Office in Mumbai received a Threatening Message from the LTTE .It has been reported that Central Industrial Security Force(CISF) tightened the Security of Air Ports in Kerala.

India's Central Intelligence Bureau(CIB) also issued a warning on Thursday night saying that an Elements sympathizing over the LTTE Terrorists would carried out Bomb Attacks targeting the Air Ports across the Southern India.

Health ministry Suspends Rubella Vaccination Programme After The Death Of A Girl Student

Ministry Of Health in Colombo today Temporary Suspended the Rubella Vaccination Programme after a Girl Student of Matara who was Hospitalized with Allergic Condition after receiving the Vaccine Died early this morning.Ministry was taken this action according to the Advise of President Mahinda Rajapaksha Ministry Sources said.
The Girl Student Pashala Hansani(12) who is the only child of her family died this morning after admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Matara General Hospital yesterday.

Director General Of Health Services Dr.Ajith Mendis Under a Special Circular issued to the Family Health Bureau and MOH Offices today instructed to stop Rubella Vaccination Programme with Immediate effect.The Girl Student who developed Allergic Symptoms like Vomitting and Headache was in Ventilator of the Intensive Care Unit(ICU) of Matara General Hospital and she died yesterday night. Another 24 Girl Students of the same school were received treatment from the Matara General Hospital and 20 of them were discharged this evening according to the Hospital Sources

Meanwhile A Special Team of Doctors compromising Three Epidemiologists and the Deputy Director General of Health Services(Public Health) Dr.P.Maheepala went to Matara MOH this morning under the instructions of Health Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva to probe on the Rubella Vaccination Incident.The team is due to produce a Full Report on the incident to the Health Secretary Dr.Athula Kahanda Liyanage tomorrow morning..Ministry Of Health also decided to bring a Specialist from the World Health Organization(WHO) to conduct a special probe on the incident."Rubella Vaccination Programme was introduced to Sri Lanka's National Immunization Programme in the year 1996 and since then this is the first time this kind of incident was reported" according to the Health Ministry Sources.President Mahinda Rajapaksha ordered to release Rs.Five Laks for the Parents of the Deceased Girl Student from the Presidents Fund.

Twenty Five Girl Students Were Hospitalized After Receiving Rubella

Around Twenty Five Girl Students attach to the Saint Thomas Girls School in Matara of the Southern Province were admitted to Matara General Hospital this noon after showing Allergic Symptoms for the Rubella Vaccine they received with one got admitted to the Intensive Care Unit(ICU).The girls were given Rubella Vaccine to prevent "Rubella "Disease or Commonly known as the "German Measles" and they felt Shocked after receiving it According to the Hospital Sources.

Matara Hospital Director Dr.Aruna Jayasekera told that the real cause of the incident is not known except the girls were showing Allergy to the the Vaccine.This Vaccine programme was organized by the Matara MOH Office.

Meanwhile the Higher Officials of both the Epidemiology Unit and the Ministry of Health were not aware of the incident as they were away from their Institutes for taking part in Seminars and Discussions.In such a Situation at least one of the Officials should have been there to inquire into the incident to Prevent such incidents in future Health Workers said.

Sixty Six Dengue Breeders In Colombo Faced Legal Action

Public Health Department of the Colombo Municipal Council in Sri Lanka filed Court Cases against 66 Residents and Institutions In the City Of Colombo within first two and half months of this year for maintaining Dengue Mosquito Breeding Places.Out of these 25 Cases were filed against the residents and institutions of Modara Mattakuliya in the Colombo Suburbs according to Dr.Pradeep Kariyawasam the Chief Medical Officer of Colombo.

From January to Mid March this Year around 184 Dengue Cases were reported from the Colombo City with 3 Deaths Dr.Kariyawasam pointed out.All 3 Deaths were reported from the months of January and February he stressed.
According to the MOH of Colombo last year alone Colombo Municipal Council Public Health Department filed 164 Court Cases against those who are maintaining Dengue Mosquito Breeding Places.

UNP Leadership Crisis Worsen-Party Working Committee Created A Senior Leader Post

Working Committee of the Sri Lanka's Main Opposition United National Party(UNP)today decided to Create a Senior Party Leader Post in addition to the existing Party Leader Post.This step was taken after Heavy pressure put on to the UNP Leader and the Opposition Leader Ranil Wickramasinha by Majority Members of the Party to step down from party leadership.

Earlier it was reported that UNP Leader sent a message to the rebel MP'S who preasurising him to stepping down, his willingness to step down from the party leadership.Secretary of the UNP Tissa Attanayaka, Party Chairman Rukman Senanayaka and Deputy Chairman Gamini Jayawickrama Perera convey this message to the members on behalf of the UNP Leader at a special party meeting held yesterday.

However Most Senior Party Members urged that the UNP Leader done this trick in several occasions earlier when he was under pressure to quit from Party Leadership by sending messages to the Party Meetings without attending them.This time too he did the same and they do not believe him unless he himself making a statement regarding his resignation Members stressed.UNP rebel MP'S also said that Ranil will be given a Senior Party Leader post after stepping down from party leadership and Opposition Leader Post.

Ranil Wickramasinha was asked to stepdown from the Party Leadership by the Rebel MP'S of his Party was due to the UNP'S failiar of winning recently concluded Provincial Council Elections.