Deniyaya's 'brain fever' still not subsided: Schools remain closed

Authorities have taken steps to further close four major schools that were temporarily shut down due to a rapidly spreading fever among school children in the Deniyaya educational zone. Deniyaya Zonal Education Director, Ms. Nishaka Hettigoda, stated that this decision was made as an urgent precautionary measure to control the spread of the disease, taking into account the recommendations provided by health authorities.

Accordingly, Deniyaya Central College, Deniyaya Rajapaksha Maha Vidyalaya, Deniyaya St. Matthew's Bilingual College, and Pallegama Siddhartha Vidyalaya will remain closed tomorrow (11) and the day after tomorrow (12). Health officials, who suspect the nature of the illness spreading among these schoolchildren, indicate that it could be 'Meningitis' or brain fever.

These four schools were also temporarily closed on the 7th and 8th due to the illness. However, considering the tendency of the disease to spread among students in the area, steps were taken to further extend the relevant holiday period based on the advice of health authorities, stated Mr. N.K.R. Pathirana, Secretary of Education for the Southern Province.

Several students who have already shown symptoms have been hospitalized for treatment, and the local Medical Officer of Health (MOH) office and education authorities are jointly taking measures to control the situation. A special set of instructions has also been issued to parents, urging them to immediately seek medical treatment without any delay if their children exhibit symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, or vomiting.