News
New trend in flu pattern
View(s):By Kumudini Hettiarachchi
A new and unexpected trend in the disease pattern of the common flu, which is sweeping across Sri Lanka, has been found at the Polonnaruwa Hospital.
Patients who contract influenza could also fall victim to a secondary infection. This secondary infection is normally caused by bacteria, but at Polonnaruwa it has been ascertained that some are being hit by a fungal infection, the Sunday Times learns.
The fungus or mould has been identified as aspergillus, commonly found in tropical countries and in paddy-cultivating areas, said Polonnaruwa Hospital’s Consultant Microbiologist, Dr. Muditha Abeykoon who stumbled upon this discovery. This is believed to be a first for Sri Lanka and a major breakthrough in fighting influenza deaths, it is understood, and may be a pattern in other areas as well — which needs to be checked out. Then the current treatment plan could be tailored to meet this new pattern, in turn, helping to save lives.
While Dr. Abeykoon has informed both the Epidemiology Unit and the Medical Research Institute, he had also contacted the Hong Kong-based well-known virologist Prof. Malik Peiris who had said that such a secondary fungal infection was not a common phenomenon. There are effective anti-fungal medications and it may be important to differentiate between bacterial and fungal secondary infections after influenza which would help save lives, adds Dr. Abeykoon.