• GMOA expresses caution over crowds at public functions

Health authorities have urged the public to maintain strict hygiene practices and avoid crowded environments as Sri Lanka experiences a reported increase in enteroviral meningitis cases, particularly among school-aged children.The first cases of enteroviral meningitis were reported from Deniyaya in the Matara District in April. According to the Ministry of Health, the disease has since been identified in the districts of Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, and Badulla as well.

The Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health issued special instructions and health guidelines to health authorities and relevant institutions islandwide on Friday (29) to prevent and control the spread of the disease. The guidelines included information on symptoms, clinical diagnosis, treatment procedures, sample collection, school- and community-level preventive strategies, and health precautions for public gatherings.Epidemiological and environmental investigations also identified both cluster outbreaks and sporadic cases.According to the Epidemiology Unit, the primary symptoms of meningitis include high fever, headache, and vomiting, which can emerge three to seven days after infection. Authorities further stated that patients generally made a full recovery within a week with proper medical treatment and advice.

Commenting on the situation, Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) Assistant Secretary Dr. Hansamal Weerasuriya emphasised the need for public awareness and preventive measures, particularly given the large crowds.

“It is spreading through respiratory as well as oral routes, through food and saliva droplets. With the upcoming dansal season and crowd congestion, there is a higher risk,” he said.

Dr. Weerasuriya advised the public to exercise extreme caution in crowded areas and at public food distribution events, stressing that the illness could spread rapidly through close contact.