{"id":18828,"date":"2026-05-20T11:39:22","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T11:39:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/?p=18828"},"modified":"2026-05-21T04:58:49","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T04:58:49","slug":"false-claim-that-meningitis-is-spreading-among-school-children-in-ratnapura-these-days","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/false-claim-that-meningitis-is-spreading-among-school-children-in-ratnapura-these-days\/","title":{"rendered":"No, &#8220;Brain Fever&#8221; Is NOT Spreading Among Schoolchildren in Ratnapura; Viral AI Video Is False!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-background has-medium-font-size\"style=\"background-color:#b6babf91\"><a href=\" https:\/\/whatsapp.com\/channel\/0029Va5pj8o4IBh5WxNhlE0I \"> Subscribe to our WhatsApp Channel <\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Social media platforms increasingly spread public health information, but not all of it is accurate. Sharing unverified claims can create unnecessary alarm among the public. Below is a fact-check we conducted on one such false claim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Social Media Posts:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cDisturbing news from Ratnapura! Please pay attention to this information for the safety of your children. \u2018Meningitis\u2019 (brain fever) is reportedly spreading among schoolchildren in Ratnapura these days. According to health authorities, although the situation is currently reported only from Ratnapura, parents across Sri Lanka need to be aware of it.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An AI-generated video carrying the above message was widely circulated on social media as seen below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe frameBorder='0' width='640' height='360' webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen src=\"https:\/\/www.awesomescreenshot.com\/embed?id=52499199&#038;shareKey=0cf99e9c9b9a3a64dcb34fc494b40ede\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.facebook.com\/reel\/3442487609231894\"><strong>Facebook<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The video was also widely shared through WhatsApp as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"526\" height=\"538\" src=\"https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-91.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18830\" style=\"width:474px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-91.png 526w, https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-91-293x300.png 293w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 526px) 100vw, 526px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Following several requests to verify whether &#8220;brain fever&#8221; was actually spreading in the Ratnapura area, we conducted a fact-check into the claim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Fact-Check<\/strong>:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Encephalitis and meningitis, commonly referred to as \u201cbrain fever\u201d in general usage, are serious medical conditions caused by infections affecting the brain or the protective membranes surrounding the brain. These diseases are mainly classified based on the type of microorganism causing the infection and the body\u2019s reaction to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We first examined whether mainstream media outlets had reported any unusual increase or outbreak of \u201cbrain fever\u201d cases among children in the Ratnapura area. However, we were unable to find any such reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the first week of May 2026, a suspected outbreak of viral meningitis (\u201cbrain fever\u201d) was reported among schoolchildren in the Deniyaya area of the Matara District, drawing significant public attention. Around <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/ZvH-LSViZC8?t=69\">47 children<\/a> received treatment at the Deniyaya Base Hospital. To control the spread of the illness, education authorities temporarily closed several schools in the Deniyaya area. Health officials suspected that contaminated drinking water transmitted the virus. This situation was widely reported in mainstream media, and coverage can be found <a href=\"https:\/\/www.adaderana.lk\/news.php?nid=122256\">here<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymirror.lk\/breaking-news\/Schools-in-Deniyaya-temporarily-closed-amid-viral-fever-outbreak\/108-339711\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ratnapura Teaching Hospital &amp; Health Officials from the region<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, the Ratnapura District has historically <a href=\"https:\/\/archives.dailynews.lk\/2013\/02\/27\/news51.asp\">recorded<\/a> periodic cases of \u201cbrain fever\u201d such as Japanese encephalitis. Given this context, we contacted the Director of the Ratnapura Teaching Hospital. Dr. Aruna stated that there had been no reports of a meningitis outbreak or any unusual increase in paediatric cases similar to the situation in Deniyaya. He noted that only occasional cases of Japanese encephalitis and meningitis were treated at the hospital each year as part of routine admissions and that these were not indicative of any current outbreak linked to the Deniyaya situation. He added that health authorities continue to monitor the situation closely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Regional Epidemiology Unit, which monitors infectious disease trends in the area, also confirmed that there had been no significant increase in encephalitis or meningitis cases at the hospital or in the surrounding region, including among schoolchildren. This was further confirmed by the local Public Health Inspector, who stated that no abnormal rise in such cases had been observed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While there is currently no outbreak of \u201cbrain fever\u201d in the Ratnapura District, health authorities do regularly issue warnings about diseases that can affect the brain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Ratnapura District reports the highest number of rat fever cases and related deaths in Sri Lanka. In severe cases, rat fever can affect the brain and its surrounding membranes, leading to meningitis that can be life-threatening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Standing water in gem-mining pits in the Ratnapura area can contribute to mosquito breeding, while the presence of pig-rearing farms is also considered a risk factor for certain infections and environmental conditions that may increase the risk of \u201cbrain fever\u201d in the region. As a result, the Japanese Encephalitis (JE) vaccine has been made compulsory for children under the age of 10. Further information is available <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sundaytimes.lk\/130217\/news\/open-gem-pits-and-pigs-main-cause-for-spread-of-japanese-encephalitis-33624.html\">here<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.epid.gov.lk\/storage\/post\/pdfs\/en_67c181e537afa_Vol_52_no_01-english.pdf\">here<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/archives.dailynews.lk\/2013\/02\/27\/news51.asp\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Steps to protect children<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Always provide children with boiled and cooled, clean drinking water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Advise children not to share water bottles or food at school or tuition classes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If a child develops a high fever, severe headache, vomiting, or difficulty moving the neck, seek immediate medical attention at the nearest government hospital without delay. More information is available <a href=\"http:\/\/suwalanka.com\/%E0%B6%B8%E0%B7%9C%E0%B7%85%E0%B7%9A-%E0%B6%8B%E0%B6%AB-meningitis\/\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The video below features Paediatric Respiratory Specialist Dr. Channa De Silva of Lady Ridgeway Hospital explaining the situation reported in Deniyaya and the key symptoms of meningitis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><iframe title=\"\u0daf\u0dbb\u0dd4\u0dc0\u0db1\u0dca \u0d85\u0dad\u0dbb \u0db4\u0dd0\u0dad\u0dd2\u0dbb\u0dd9\u0db1 \u0d8b\u0dab \u0d9c\u0dd0\u0db1 \u0dc3\u0ddc\u0dba\u0db1\u0dca\u0db1 \u0dc0\u0dd2\u0dc1\u0dda\u0dc2 \u0dc0\u0ddb\u0daf\u0dca\u200d\u0dba \u0d9a\u0dab\u0dca\u0da9\u0dcf\u0dba\u0db8\u0d9a\u0dca \u0d85\u0daf \u0daf\u0dd9\u0db1\u0dd2\u0dba\u0dcf\u0dba\u0da7 | Ada Derana\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ZvH-LSViZC8?start=40&#038;feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Join us to learn more about our fact-checking investigations.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/factcrescendosl\/\"><strong>Facebook<\/strong><\/a><strong> | <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/factcrescendosl\"><strong>Twitter<\/strong><\/a><strong> | <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/factcrescendo_sl\/\"><strong>Instagram<\/strong><\/a><strong> | <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMODMpgswyNe-Aw\"><strong>Google News<\/strong><\/a><strong> | <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@factcrescendosl\"><strong>TikTok<\/strong><\/a> <strong>| <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@factcrescendosl\/featured\"><strong>Youtube<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Conclusion :<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our investigation confirms that the video circulating on social media, claiming that meningitis is spreading among schoolchildren in the Ratnapura area, is false. The Director of the Ratnapura Teaching Hospital, along with the Regional Epidemiology Unit and Public Health Inspectors, confirmed that there had been no significant increase in \u201cbrain fever\u201d (encephalitis or meningitis) cases at the hospital or in the surrounding region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They stated that only one or two isolated cases had been treated since the beginning of the year, which is considered normal. Health authorities clarified that there was no outbreak among schoolchildren and no evidence of a viral spread similar to the situation reported in Deniyaya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<style>\n  \/* Modern Flexbox Container *\/\n  .fc-author-card {\n    display: flex;\n    align-items: center;\n    background-color: #ffffff;\n    border: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\n    border-left: 6px solid #e31b23; \/* Red brand accent line *\/\n    border-radius: 8px;\n    padding: 24px;\n    margin: 24px 0;\n    box-shadow: 0 4px 12px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);\n    font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\n    gap: 24px;\n    color: #333;\n  }\n\n  \/* Stamp Image *\/\n  .fc-author-card img {\n    width: 100px;\n    height: 100px;\n    flex-shrink: 0;\n    border-radius: 50%;\n    object-fit: contain;\n  }\n\n  \/* Text Content Wrapper *\/\n  .fc-card-content {\n    display: flex;\n    flex-direction: column;\n    gap: 8px;\n  }\n\n  \/* Typography *\/\n  .fc-card-content p {\n    margin: 0;\n    font-size: 16px;\n    line-height: 1.4;\n  }\n\n  .fc-label {\n    font-weight: 700;\n    color: #555;\n    text-transform: uppercase;\n    font-size: 13px;\n    letter-spacing: 0.5px;\n    margin-right: 5px;\n  }\n\n  .fc-title-text {\n    font-size: 18px;\n    font-weight: bold;\n    color: #111;\n  }\n\n  .fc-author-card a {\n    color: #0056b3;\n    text-decoration: none;\n    font-weight: 600;\n  }\n\n  .fc-author-card a:hover {\n    text-decoration: underline;\n  }\n\n  .fc-result-text {\n    font-size: 18px;\n    font-weight: 900;\n    color: #e31b23;\n    text-transform: uppercase;\n  }\n\n  \/* Mobile Responsiveness *\/\n  @media (max-width: 500px) {\n    .fc-author-card {\n      flex-direction: column;\n      text-align: center;\n      padding: 20px;\n    }\n  }\n<\/style>\n\n<div class=\"fc-author-card\">\n  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.factcrescendo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/False.png\" alt=\"Result Stamp\">\n  \n  <div class=\"fc-card-content\">\n    <p><span class=\"fc-label\">Title:<\/span> <span class=\"fc-title-text\">The Claim That a Type of \u201cBrain Fever\u201d Is Currently Spreading Among Schoolchildren in the Ratnapura Area Is False! <\/span><\/p>\n    <p><span class=\"fc-label\">Fact Check By:<\/span> <a href=\"mailto:info@factcrescendo.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pavithra Sandamali<\/a><\/p>\n    <p><span class=\"fc-label\">Result:<\/span> <span class=\"fc-result-text\">False<\/span><\/p>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/api.whatsapp.com\/send?phone=94771514696&#038;text=Please%20type%20your%20Name%20and%20Language:%20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2481\" src=\"https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Whats-app-sri-lanka.png\" alt=\"\"><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Subscribe to our WhatsApp Channel Social media platforms increasingly spread public health information, but not all of it is accurate. Sharing unverified claims can create unnecessary alarm among the public. Below is a fact-check we conducted on one such false claim. Social Media Posts: \u201cDisturbing news from Ratnapura! Please pay attention to this information for [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":18829,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,6,8],"tags":[2022,5127,5126],"class_list":["post-18828","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-false","category-health","category-social","tag-meningitis","tag-ratnapura","tag-ratnapura-school-children"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>No, &quot;Brain Fever&quot; Is NOT Spreading Among Schoolchildren in Ratnapura; Viral AI Video Is False! - Fact Crescendo Sri Lanka English | The leading fact-checking website<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/false-claim-that-meningitis-is-spreading-among-school-children-in-ratnapura-these-days\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"No, &quot;Brain Fever&quot; Is NOT Spreading Among Schoolchildren in Ratnapura; Viral AI Video Is False! - Fact Crescendo Sri Lanka English | The leading fact-checking website\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Subscribe to our WhatsApp Channel Social media platforms increasingly spread public health information, but not all of it is accurate. Sharing unverified claims can create unnecessary alarm among the public. Below is a fact-check we conducted on one such false claim. Social Media Posts: \u201cDisturbing news from Ratnapura! Please pay attention to this information for [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/false-claim-that-meningitis-is-spreading-among-school-children-in-ratnapura-these-days\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Fact Crescendo Sri Lanka English | The leading fact-checking website\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-05-20T11:39:22+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-05-21T04:58:49+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/WhatsApp-Image-2569-05-20-at-16.42.11.jpeg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"622\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"420\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Pavithra Sandamali\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Pavithra Sandamali\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\\\/english\\\/false-claim-that-meningitis-is-spreading-among-school-children-in-ratnapura-these-days\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\\\/english\\\/false-claim-that-meningitis-is-spreading-among-school-children-in-ratnapura-these-days\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Pavithra Sandamali\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\\\/english\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/6a01f2789633a4396c1d94875794ec06\"},\"headline\":\"No, &#8220;Brain Fever&#8221; Is NOT Spreading Among Schoolchildren in Ratnapura; Viral AI Video Is False!\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-20T11:39:22+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-21T04:58:49+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\\\/english\\\/false-claim-that-meningitis-is-spreading-among-school-children-in-ratnapura-these-days\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":872,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\\\/english\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\\\/english\\\/false-claim-that-meningitis-is-spreading-among-school-children-in-ratnapura-these-days\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\\\/english\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/WhatsApp-Image-2569-05-20-at-16.42.11.jpeg\",\"keywords\":[\"Meningitis\",\"Ratnapura\",\"Ratnapura school children\"],\"articleSection\":[\"False\",\"Health\",\"Social\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\\\/english\\\/false-claim-that-meningitis-is-spreading-among-school-children-in-ratnapura-these-days\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\\\/english\\\/false-claim-that-meningitis-is-spreading-among-school-children-in-ratnapura-these-days\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\\\/english\\\/false-claim-that-meningitis-is-spreading-among-school-children-in-ratnapura-these-days\\\/\",\"name\":\"No, \\\"Brain Fever\\\" Is NOT Spreading Among Schoolchildren in Ratnapura; Viral AI Video Is False! 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