Listeria in Ratnapura?

• The woman concerned who developed nausea, high fever, and headache had been admitted to hospital in a semi-conscious state
• Elderly persons, infant children, expectant women and diabetics and cancer patients are more susceptible to this disease

By Ajithlal Shanthaudaya  

Health authorities have launched a crash programme in Kuruvita, Erathna and Sri Palabathgama to prevent any possible spread of listeria after the death of a 53-year-old woman working in a food stall on the Sri Pada route.  

A spokesman for Ratnapura General Hospital said the woman concerned who developed vomitting, high fever, and headache had been admitted to hospital in a semi-conscious state and that she died while under treatment. A senior official of Kuruvita MOH office said, judging from the symptoms she is suspected to have died of complications caused by Listeria Monocytogenes bacteria. She was a resident of Kospelawinna in Ratnapura.  
 He said her blood samples and spine marrow would be subject to biological tests to confirm the cause of death. A microbiologist said the Listeria bacteria is found in soil and refuse and that it would be contracted through frozen food including milk, sausages and cheese.   

A doctor said elderly persons, infant children, expectant women and diabetics and cancer patients are more susceptible to this disease.  

A spokesman for Kuruvita MOH office said the cause of death of the woman could be confirmed on medical test reports and that the pilgrims need not be perturbed by any possible danger to their health, but they should refrain from partaking in frozen food and take only hot food. The doctors advised them to take immediate treatment if they developed fever, vomitting and headache. 

• Pilgrims need not be perturbed by any possible danger to their health,  but they should refrain from partaking in frozen food and take only hot  food

‘No need to panic’ -Health Ministry

• Only one confirmed death from Listeria

While claiming that there is no cause for panic, the health ministry yesterday said that although there have been reports circulating on social media about several deaths, only one death has been confirmed as 
caused by Listeria. 

Speaking to media, Registrar in Community Medicine of the National Institute of Health Sciences, Dr. Naveen Soyza said.two other suspected deaths have been reported, however they have not been confirmed to be caused by the disease as of now.   

“There is no cause for panic or alarm,” Dr. Sozya said,  as all precautions have been taken by authorities in this regard. “The necessary research is being carried out, focused on the Sri Pada area, where the disease has been reported,” he said.