Variant of Meningococcal disease in SL not highly contagious

Referring to the recent concerns over the Meningococcal disease triggered by the initial detection from the Galle Prison, the Health Ministry said the variant of the disease in Sri Lanka is not highly contagious.

Addressing a news briefing yesterday (01), Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena stated that all sequence of events had been sensationalized to the extent that it was reported as if Meningococcal disease was detected for the first time in Sri Lanka.

“It is not the first time that this disease has been detected in Sri Lanka. At least 10 patients are detected yearly,” he said.

Hence, the Health DG reiterated that people should not panic as the variant of the disease in Sri Lanka is not highly contagious.

Meanwhile, Dr. Gunawardena clarified that the tragic death of the eight-month-old infant at the Karapitya Hospital, which sparked concerns over a potential community spread of Meningococcal disease, was confirmed as not caused due to the disease.

The PCR test conducted on deceased eight-month-old infant was confirmed that the infant had not died owing to the Meningococcal disease.

Furthermore, the PCR tests also confirmed that only two patients had so far contracted the disease, i.e., an inmate from the Galle prison and another person who was found from the Ratmalana area.

“The inmate died of the disease while the other person, a resident of Ja-Ela, is being treated at the National Hospital Colombo,” he added.