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Sri Lanka on alert for Zika, Chikungunya

Xinhua, September 18, 2016 Adjust font size:

Sri Lanka's main international airport and the Colombo Port have been placed on high alert to prevent the spread of the Zika virus and Chikungunya, which is raging in Asia, a local media report said here on Sunday.

"The airport's health desks have been told to caution passengers travelling to the affected countries," Quarantine Director, Dr Palitha Karunaperuma said.

The Sri Lankan government said that the island nation faced a threat from the two deadly diseases, adding that state hospitals were being geared to cope with it.

According to the local media report, the warnings of Chikungunya and Zika was issued after two deaths were reported in Chilaw, 84 km away from Colombo, last week. Both victims were admitted to the Chilaw state hospital after suffering a high temperature. Both had returned from India in the same week.

Health officials said further investigations was underway.

Increasing cases of Zika and Chikungunya have been reported from many Asian countries including Singapore, India and Thailand and airlines operating in these countries have been informed to exercise caution and report to health authorities if there were any sick passengers. Endit