The Medical Research Institute (MRI) said yesterday it was testing blood samples to identify the viral flu strain which was rapidly spreading throughout the country.

The MRI, one of the chief medical institutions which determine the root cause and prevention of illnesses said so far only common influenza germs had been detected in samples checked so far.

“We have a surveillance network through which we are trying to detect what the virus is. So far we have not detected anything abnormal. However if a person is suspected of having the viral flu they should be treated at a hospital,” MRI Director Anil Samaranayake said and added that the viral flu could be connected to the seasonal influenza which appears annually.

Meanwhile the Colombo Municipality said it was possible that most of patients who had been diagnosed as suffering from dengue might have caught the fast spreading viral flu.

The Municipality’s Chief Medical Officer Pradeep Kariyawasam said there had been 1,477 patients suspected to be suffering from dengue in Colombo but on examining the diagnosis card of each patient it was found that only 769 patients had been confirmed cases of dengue.

He said this could mean that the majority might have contracted some kind of viral flu.

“The viral flu and dengue symptoms appear to be similar, and this makes it hard to distinguish one from the other. Nausea, vomiting, headache, a low platelet count, inability to urinate, poor eye sight are some of the common symptoms for both illnesses,” Dr. Kariyawasam said.

He said the 475 confirmed cases of dengue reported this month was an all time high.

Doctors had warned that children were more likely to contract the virus and parents were advised that in either cases of viral flu or dengue it was best to seek hospital treatment.

Meanwhile Colombo school officials said they were not aware of the viral flu that was reported to be spreading especially among children.

Ananda College Deputy Principal, Sampath Weragoda said although some students had been suspected of having dengue the school authorities were unaware of the mysterious viral flu.

“We haven’t detected any kind of threat from the virus will take precautions depending on the prevailing situation,” Mr. Weragoda said.

Royal College Principal Upali Gunasekara said he had not received reports or complaints about the virus. Museus College Principal S. Dandeniya said she was also not aware of a viral flu spreading among children. (Olindhi Jayasundere )