Health Alert Inside Prisons After Measles Cases Emerge

COLOMBO (News 1st) A growing measles outbreak within Sri Lanka's prison system has prompted authorities to introduce emergency health measures, with court proceedings for inmates at two major prisons shifting online as officials scramble to prevent further spread of the disease.

The Department of Prisons said court proceedings involving inmates from the Magazine Prison and Colombo Remand Prison were conducted virtually today as part of efforts to contain the outbreak.

The move follows the detection of four inmates infected with measles at the two prisons.

Prisons Department Spokesman Senaka Palletenne said strict preventive measures have now been put in place, including a ban on outsiders entering the affected prison premises.

Authorities have also launched a vaccination campaign, with 900 inmates already receiving immunisation against the disease.

Meanwhile, blood samples from a further 20 individuals have been sent to the Medical Research Institute for laboratory testing.