Authorities say spreading in Bibile due to water.....

At a meeting held to raise public awareness on Sunday, doctors revealed that 90 percent of hepatitis patients in the Bibila area, have contracted the disease through drinking water.

On September 11, Newsfirst  reported that hepatitis was spreading rapidly in two villages in the Bibile area. These villages were Udamalhewa and Pahalamalhewa.

This month alone, twenty nine hepatitis patients have been reported from these two villages.
Speaking about the issue  residents said,
“We are not sure how the child got it. Whether it was from school or home. We always use water from home which we get from the well”

“Some children don’t take water from home when they go to school. So they drink water from the taps in school. And the school gets water from the water system.”

Our reporter notes that these villages which have a population of about 400 families, rely on a water source in the Malhewa Kanda area for their water needs. Health authorities say that the contamination  of this water  source is causing the spread in hepatitis.

A public awareness programme was held on Sunday with the participation of Minister Vijith Wijayamuni Zoysa, the Medical Superintendent of the Bibile Base Hospital Dr. Prageeth Darshana and health officials from the area.

Steps that should be taken to mitigate the spread of the disease in the area were discussed at this meeting.

Dr. Prageeth Dharshana Medical Superintendent - Bibile Base Hospital said:

“Hepatitis A which is spreading in this are in Sri Lanka at present, is being transmitted through food, not through blood. That is what we have identified at present.

G.E. Silva Nursing Officer at Bibila Base Hospital stated:

“We believe that 85 to 90 percent of patients contracted the disease from drinking water. When we speak to people here, they say that they boil the water but they drink tap water from time to time. The Hepatitis virus has found its way into the drinking water source.

Min. Vijith Vijayamuni Zoysa Bibila Electorate Organiser (UPFA) noted:

“Some people go to quack doctors as well. Once the  disease spreads to a certain extent it will be difficult to rein it in. These doctors are ready and willing to treat you and provide you with the treatment you need.”