It is reported that the Health Promotion Bureau of the Ministry of Health is asking people to be very careful about getting hygienic and clean food for those who are engaged in pilgrimages.
Director of the Health Promotion Bureau Mr. Ranjith Batuantudava stated that an investigation is being conducted to see if Listeria, which is caused by ingesting a bacterium, is spreading around the Ratnapura district.
A woman died of food poisoning in Ratnapura’s Eratna area and it has been confirmed that the cause of her death was listeria which is caused by ingesting bacteria.
Two more similar deaths have been reported and it has not been confirmed whether the cause of those deaths was listeria.
Symptoms such as fever, vomiting, headache and diarrhea have been shown and Dr. Navinda Soysa has stated that the disease is caused by ingesting bacteria through contaminated food.
Accordingly, the public health inspectors have emphasized that devotees going on Sri Pada pilgrimage as well as people engaged in other trips should always take care to get clean water and food.
