As a measure to contain the spread of the viral fever in the Southern Province, Health officials have decided to extend the pediatric emergency services at Karapitiya Teaching Hospital (KTH) While 14 children reported to have died, 48 infants contracted the disease are being treated at the children’s wards of the KTH, hospital sources said. Director of the KTH, Dr. Jayampathi Senarathna said that however, the number of patients being admitted to his hospital is gradually decreasing. Contrary to this, the Matara HSD said that although there was a decrease in the number of adult patients, there was no decrease in small children. Matara District Health Services Director, Dr. A. D. U. Karunaratna said that there is still a significant a risk of the spread of the disease amongst small children.
