Health officials warn that there is a risk of Malaria spreading after several cases were reported from Bibile, Mahiyanganaya and Gampaha recently.
The Monaragala Regional Malaria Officer Dr. Karunasena said several employees of the contractor in charge of the construction of the Bibila Sikuralanda Meegaharawe tank have been identified as having malaria. The doctor said the workers had previously worked in Uganda before returning to Sri Lanka.
“They had come to Sri Lanka after working in Uganda and participated in the renovation work of the Meegaharawa tank. Meanwhile, tests carried out after the onset of symptoms have identified several of the workers as malaria patients. We believe they had got infected in Uganda” he said.
Although there are no malaria patients, there is a risk of the disease spreading as malaria mosquitoes might be found in the area, Dr. Karunasena said. He said anyone with Malaria symptoms should visit the Bibile hospital for treatment.
Sri Lanka was successful in eradicating Malaria, which was once an epidemic in the country in 2016. However, after only two years of being declared free from Malaria, the disease began raising its head in the country again after several imported Malaria cases were reported.
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