Avian Influenza Preparedness
Progress Report

Country Situation

Sri Lanka has a population of 19.5 million and no cases of H5N1 have been reported either in human or in animal to date. Animal surveillance studies have shown the prevalence of H3N2, H6 and H9 strains and human surveillance studies have isolated H3N2 (Influenza A), Influenza B, adenovirus and RSV as the causative agents for flu.

Sri Lanka also is vulnerable to catch the disease because of the following.

• Large poultry industry
• Backyard poultry farming
• Migratory birds
• Increased travel/trade both within and outside country
• Recent Avian Influenza outbreaks among poultry in India

Sri Lanka has experienced outbreaks of influenza due to the following strains so far
2004- Influenza B, Hong Kong/330/2001, Shanghai/361/2002
2003- Influenza A /H3N2
1998- Influenza A /H3N2/Sydney strain

Following activities have been carried out in the country

• National Plan of Action for Avian Influenza Preparedness was prepared in collaboration with Department of Animal Production & Health
• National Avian Influenza Steering Committee and National Avian Influenza Technical Committees were formed and are being regularly met
• Guidelines (2) on handling avian influenza cases developed and distributed as a government circular to all health institutions
• Twenty hospitals selected as sentinel sites for avian influenza preparedness and staff of these hospitals trained in preparedness activities
• District Preparedness plans and hospital preparedness plans (for sentinel hospitals) developed
• Routine surveillance of avian influenza among poultry/migratory birds and routine human influenza surveillance(1) & (2) in the sentinel hospitals including laboratory surveillance initiated and being vigilantly carried out ((Gen. Cir. No. 02-164/2005 of 30.11.2005)
• Development of isolation units in the sentinel hospitals funded by the Health sector Development Project of World Bank initiated
• Provincial Technical Committees on avian influenza preparedness established in Western, North Western, Central and Eastern Provinces
• A behavioural community research survey on avian influenza completed prior to development of communication materials under the national communication strategy on avian influenza
  o An emergency rehabilitation plan for Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH), the main referral centre for avian influenza developed
• Initial public awareness programmes carried out with media seminars, communication materials i.e. leaflets, fact files and through print and electronic media
• Essential supplies Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) & Laboratory reagents received & distributed
• Antiviral Treatment Tamiflu (Oseltamivir) stocks made available in the sentinel hospitals
• A national workshop on table top exercises on avian influenza preparedness was held for all key stake holders in order to evaluate the present National Plan of Action for Avian Influenza Preparedness (NIPP)