Sri Lanka, May 25 -- The Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health has issued a set of special guidelines to all health authorities and relevant institutions aimed at controlling and preventing the spread of meningitis.

The Ministry of Health and Mass Media said the guidelines cover suspected symptoms, clinical diagnosis and classification, modes of transmission, treatment, preventive measures, public health practices, school-related instructions, sample collection and laboratory testing, clinical management and community-level control measures, as well as guidance for public gatherings and events.

Health officials have observed that the disease is spreading rapidly, particularly among schoolchildren.

Common symptoms include fever, h...