Accordingly, Grades 1 to 5 of all schools in the Galle, Matara, Mulatiyana, Akuressa, Tangalle, and Walasmulla Education Zones will be closed on May 22 and 23 to prevent the spread of fever.However, Grades 6 to 11 of the schools will remain open. In addition, all pre-schools in the Southern Province will also be closed throughout this week. A viral flu epidemic is spreading across the Southern Province mostly affecting infants and children. Several children under one year of age and elderly people who were infected with the viral disease have died while at present around 600 people are receiving treatment

According to the Director of the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital in Galle, 37 children are presently receiving treatment for influenza in the hospital. Meanwhile, health authorities asked the people to follow personal hygiene methods such as washing hands with soap and avoiding crowded areas to minimize the exposure to virus.