One employee died and another two are being treated at the Mental Health Institute (MHI) of Angoda after complaining for a respiratory blockade from a suspected viral attack similar to that of H1N1, widely known as swine flu, a ministry spokesman said.

Ministry spokesman Dharma Wanninayaka said  the three employees at the MHI had reportedly fallen ill with respiratory problems and tests conducted by the Medical Research Institute (MRI) and Government Epidemiology Unit (GEU) had revealed that the virus belongs to the H1N1 2009 family that devastated the US, Canada, Europe and East Asia with Pandemic Influenza or Swine flu, killing thousands.

“The MRI and GEU have isolated the virus and advised the MHI to separate the remaining two patients and treat them under strict medical supervision. The Health Ministry has alerted other hospitals on the viral attack on three employees of the MHI and also taken steps to supply to equip all hospitals with required drugs to face a possible spread of the disease,’ Mr. Wanninayaka stressed.( S.A.J)