May 09, Colombo: Nearly 8,000 Internally Displaced Persons who are living at the welfare centers in Vavuniya are suffering from chickenpox, Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) authorities, the outbreak is in the declining phase now and the daily admission rate is about 100 now.

The Minister said the Health Ministry has taken measures to treat the affected and provide necessary care.

The patients have been kept isolated at a Divisional Hospital for a few days and were given a recommended treatment of Acyclovir tablets and injections for vulnerable patients, the WHO said.

Minister Silva said the patients had suffered the outbreak prior to their arrival in cleared areas. The Minister assured that steps have been taken to prevent the spreading of chickenpox to other IDPs in the welfare centers.

Meanwhile health authorities have reported several cases of diarrhea at these camps, the Minister said. WHO attributed the increased number of diarrhea cases to inadequate latrines and safe drinking water to some of the recently established IDP camps.

Meanwhile the Ministry has signed MOUs with Medicine Sans Frontiers, French Government, German Red Cross and IOM for establishment of field hospitals and clinical facilities in IDP camps and in referral hospitals.