LAW STUDENT DIES OF DENGUE

Came to know it's dengue only when she fell down on corridor
Nisansala, 24 year old Law student ...who died of dengue

     A 24 year old Law student studying at the Law Faculty in the University of Colombo contracted dengue and passed away yesterday (05). She is S.J.Nisansala Priyanthi Samarasingha, a second year Law student and a resident of Kegalla, Debathgama who was following her education, staying at the university hostel.

    Nisansala who was stationed at the hostel known as 'Aquinas' in the vicinity of the Colombo University along Havelock Road had been breaking rest in the past few weeks, studying for the examination at hand. In the process, she had signs of fever from the beginning of last week though she had not taken much notice of it. After the fever aggravated, she had gone to a medical centre and taken treatment

    It is said that she had been diagnosed as a patient having a normal virus infection and has been treated accordingly. Other studentsin her room had mentioned that she was noticed to be getting weaker and weaker. She had however ignored her sick condition and kept on engaging in her studies breaking rest even on the night of 29th. Towards dawn at about 3 in the morning she had been walking along the hostel corridor after finishing the studies and she is reported to have collapsed.

    It was said that she has had a very high temperature. On this occasion students and guardians of the hostel had rushed towards her and had taken steps to admit her to the national hospital in Colombo.

    But officials of the hospital had said that by that time she had reached the peak of her sickness. Though treatment had begun, her condition had begun to deteriorate gradually and she had been admitted to the ICU after 2 days. Nisansala who fought a battle with her life there passed away yesterday. Nisansala who was 21 years old, was the only daughter in the family and had 2 elder brothers.

    She had won the hearts of everyone in the university and it was difficult for them to believe of her sudden bereavement.

    It was reported that within the last few days alone 22 individuals from the Law Faculty who were noticed to have signs of dengue had taken medical treatment. By this time, the Law Faculty and a number of other faculties have been temporarily closed for dengue prevention activities.

    Though it had been found from survey reports that the dengue menace became active during a specific period every year, it is revealed that the attention of the authorities in this regard is at a low level.  In the meantime it was reported that the main person in charge of or responsible for the dengue prevention unit at the Ministry of Health is presently on a tour in America for a period of about 3 weeks.