The wards and the OPD of the district hospital, Matale are full of patients who are victims of the viral flu which is fast spreading in the Matale district. Among the patients are victims of rat fever, chikungunya, dengue, diarrhoea and infections like the viral flu. The patients are from the villages coming under the Municipal Council, Matale who are members of the same family, pregnant women, government servants and children under the age of 12 years. A spokesman for the hospital said even some of the hospital staffs were among the patients. Two patients with viral flu and a nine-month old infant with pneumonia had died recently. Specimens of parts of bodies were sent to MRI, Colombo for further investigations, the spokesman said. The Superintendent of Health Dr. W.K.W.S. Kumarawansa said the cause of the viral flu is the incessant rains. He said the symptoms were body pain, headache, pain in the joints, vomiting and stomach troubles. He requested the media to conduct awareness programmes and inform the people to get admitted to the hospital if symptoms prevail.