The University of Peradeniya was closed until further notice, by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Upul B. Dissanayake, due to an outbreak of fever among students.
A number of students have been taken ill in the last few days and the university has been closed down to prevent the further spread of the disease. Students have been advised to leave the hostels by 12 midday today (4).
Influenza A(H1N1) has been spreading across the country in the last few weeks. The Ministry of Health has urged the public to be vigilant and seek medical treatment if they suspect they have contracted H1N1.
17 people have died due to this virus in the Central Province, where Peradeniya University is also situated.
H1N1 influenza is a flu-like illness which spreads from person to person through coughing, sneezing, or touching infected surfaces. Furthermore, because this virus is relatively new, most people are not immune to it. This is one of the main reasons this influenza spreads very fast, and it is believed to be more common among children and young adults.
