Ministry Of Health Requested WHO To Conduct Lab Test For Rubella Vaccine

The Ministry Of Health has requested the World Health Organization(WHO)to submit the Rubella Vaccines purchase by the Sri Lankan National Immunization Programme for a Laboratory Test following the Deaths of two School Girls who died after receiving the Vaccine this year.

Health Ministry Secretary Dr.Athula Kahanda Liyanage personally  requested the WHO Representative here during the Weekend to send the Rubella Vaccine for a Lab Test.The Vaccine is due to send to the TGA Lab in Australia for the Test according to the Health Ministry sources.

Two School Girls died due to developing an Allergic Conditions after receiving the Rubella Vaccine this year and More than Thirty Students too received Hospital Treatment due to the Allergic Conditions occurred because of the Vaccine.Meanwhile the Special Inquiry on the recently reported Death of the School Girl in Wariyapola Area due to the Vaccine is to be conclude this Weekend.This Inquiry is conducted by a Team compromising Medical Specialists.

All Island Health Services Union To Protest Over Arresting Of Health Officials

All Island Health Services Union(Samastha Lanka Suwa Sewa Sangamaya) said that there is a Conspiracy to arrest the MOH of the Wariyapola Area and a Public Health Inspector(PHI) attach to the MOH Office over the Death of the School Girl who died after receiving a Rubella Vaccine early this Week.The Union sent a letter to the Health Ministry Secretary Dr.Athula Kahanda Liyanage stating if such an arrest is taking place their Union will call an Island Wide Strike of the Hospitals to protest against such a move.

The letter sent to the Health Secretary which was signed by the President of the Health Services Union Mr.Gamini Kumarasinha said that the MOH of the Wariyapola Area and a PHI were asked to appear before the Kurunagala Police on the 14th.

However when contacted The Regional Health Services Director Dr.R Rathnayaka said that there is  no truth on attempting to get arrest the MOH and PHI over the Rubella Incident.The Regional Health Services Office at Kurunagala too conducting a Separate Investigation on the Incident.

Twenty Suspected Swine Flu Cases Reported From Colombo International School

Around 20  Students attached to an International School in Colombo suspected as suffering from Swine Flu were reported to the Infectious Disseses Hospital at IDH today in addition to the Six  Swine Flu Cases confirmed from the same School yesterday.These Suspected cases were discharged after taking Blood Samples of them.

The Blood Samples were sent to the Medical Research Institute in Colombo for the tests according to the Hospital Authorities.Six Swine flu cases including Five Students and a Staff Member were reported from an International Collage yesterday and they were undergoing special treatment at the Hospital.Blood Samples taken from another 10 Suspected Swine Flu Students too sent to the MRI by yesterday eve for the tests.All the confirmed Swine Flu Cases reported from the School were caught the dissease locally.

GMOA Advised All MOH's And Doctors To Refrain Administering Rubella Vaccine Till Safety Assures

The Government Medical Officers Association(GMOA) today advised all the Medical Officers Of Health(MOH) and Doctors Islandwide to refrain from Administering the Rubella Vaccine till the Health Ministry has taken steps to Test the Vaccine in an International Laboratory and assure

the Protection and Safety of the Vaccine.

GMOA also advised the Doctors to refrain from Adminstering the Rubella Vaccine even the Health Ministry request them to do so after conclusion of the present Inquiry  in to the Death of a School Girl who died

after receiving the Vaccine.The Assistant Secretary of the GMOA Dr.Chandana Atapattu said during a Press Briefing held in Colombo this noon that the Health Minister is trying to put the blame on the Girls Death towards the Doctors while refrain to assure the quality of the Rubella Vaccine use under the National Immunization Programme.

Due to the Deaths  of the Two School Girls in this year  occured due to Rubella Vaccine People are loosing their faith on the Immunization Programme which is one of the Best in the world Dr.Atapattu stressed.He also said that the GMOA requested the Ministry Of Health to introduce either the MR(Mumps and Rubella) or MMR(Measles,Mumps and Rubella) Vaccine to the Immunization Programme instead of the Present Rubella Vaccine.

253 Sri Lankan Asylum Seekers Captured By Indonesian Navy Threatend To Blow Their Boat

Around 253 Ethnic Sri Lankan Asylum Seeking Tamils who were on their way to the Chirstmas Island in Australia from a Wooden Boat threatened to blown up their Boat if the Authorities tried to forcibly disembark them from the Boat after they were captured by the Indonesian Navy.Their Boat which is sailing through the Waters of Indonesia and Malaysia was captured by the Indonesian Navy at the Sunda Straight between Java and Sumatra Islands during the Weekend.These People were aboard the Boat from Jafna.

According to the Indonesian Officials the Group of Sri Lankans yesterday threatened the Authorities that they will blown up their Boat by using Cooking Stoves if they are forcibly disembark from the Boat.Each Asylum Seeker is believed to be paid Rs.15,000 US$ for the journey.Now they are negotiating with the Indonesian Navy and most of these people still believing that they still can make up to the Christmas Island if the Indonesian Authorities are releasing them.

The Boat of  these people are in is tied to the Anti Submarine Ship which captured the Boat at The Port of Marack Area.

Investigation Team Inquire On The Rubella Vaccine Incident Began The Inquiry

The Investigation Team appointed to Inquire on the Death of the School Girl which occurred after receiving the Rubella Vaccine left for  Variayapola and Kurunagala Hospitals in the North Western Province today to begin the Inquiry in to the Incident.Four Members of the Team left today and they will also due to questioned the Parents of the Demised School Girl if  a need arise The Epidemiology Unit said.

Meanwhile The Health Authorities here already informed the Incident to the World Health Organization(WHO) Headquarters in Geneva,Switzerland.The WHO it self maybe inquire in the incident according to the Ministry of Health.

Rubella Vaccine Claimed The Life Of A Second School Girl This Year

A shocking Second Death of a School Girl occurred  after Received the Rubella Vaccine this year was reported last night from Wariyapola Area of the North Western Province.The School Girl is a 13 year old who was studied at the Minuwangate School in the area and another two of her School Mates  too were got themselves admitted to the Hospital  when they developed an allergic Condition after receiving the Rubella Vaccine on last Saturday.


Soon after receiving the news of the Girls Death the Epidemiology Unit had Suspended the Rubella Vaccine Campaign with immediate effect.This suspension will remain till the conclusion of the Investigations on Death of the School Girl Health Officials stressed.

The School Girl "Ashanthi Wasna' was not shown any other disorder before been Vaccinated for Rubella according to the Health Officials.Addressing a Press Briefing at the Epidemiology Unit in Colombo this noon A Vaccine Expert Dr.Omala Wimalarathne said that a Special Investigation Team comprising the Experts of Vaccination,Allergic Conditions,Child Care,Physiology  and Pharmacology was appointed to Inquire into the  Death of the School Girl.This Team is due to leave the Wariyapola Hospital tomorrow(!3) to conduct further Investigation into this matter according to Dr.Wimalaratna.

Besides this Team the Chief Judicial Officer in Colombo Dr.Ananada Samarasekera is too conducting a seperate Inquiry on the facts revealed at  the Post Mortem of  the Girls   Death.Another School Girl  13 year old "Pashala Hansani" of Matara District in the Southern Province was collapsed soon after receiving the Rubella Vaccine on last March and Died after received the ICU Traetment.With her another 29 of her School Mates  too received Hospital Treatment for Allergies after getting Vaccinated.The Rubella Vaccine was Temporarily Suspended on that occassion  too under the Instructions of  the President Mahinda Rajapaksha. However a Special Inquiry conducted by the Epidemeology Unit and the World Health Organization Experts on the incident had cleared the Rubella Vaccination Programme for holding responsibility over the Girls Death.