Anthony Bugembe
30 April 2009
Kampala — THE national swine flu taskforce has started screening all people entering Uganda to prevent the virus from coming into the country.
"All entrants are expected to fill a form at all entry points indicating whether they have been to any of the areas affected by swine flu. We also ask them to give us the contacts of where they will be staying," said health minister Stephen Mallinga.
Entebbe and Mulago hospitals have been designated as case management centres should the virus hit Uganda. "We have also alerted all district health and veterinary officers and other stakeholders," said Mallinga, adding that there is no vaccine for the virus.
The minister was addressing journalists at the Media Centre yesterday.
He was flanked by Joaquim Saweka, the country representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO), the chairperson of the national swine flu taskforce, Sam Okware and his deputy, Nicholas Kauta, as well as officials from FAO and the Uganda Virus Research Institute.
Mallinga asserted that the country was well prepared for an eventual outbreak. "We have a residual stock of lab products from what we had imported for avian flu. WHO is helping us to source for more to add onto the 1,000 doses of Tamiflu tablets we have," he said.
He advised people who had recently travelled abroad and displayed symptoms associated with swine flu to report to the nearest health facility. Suspected cases should rest, take fluids in plenty and cover their nose and mouth with a handkerchief or a disposable tissue when coughing or sneezing.
Although WHO has raised the alert from phase 4 to phase 5, it has advised against restriction of travel or closure of borders.
Mallinga urged people to eat pork that is well cooked. "It should be prepared at a temperature of more than 700C. Avoid kiosks along the roads that have meat which is not well prepared."
Officials of the Uganda Virus Research Institute said testing kits would arrive in one week. In the meantime, the country is relying on kits that were stocked for bird flu.
Swine flu is contracted from contact with infected pigs and passed on from person-to-person through contact with already infected people. Symptoms include fever, body weakness, appetite loss, cough and sore throat. If not managed, the illness could progress into severe pneumonia and death.
WHO representative Saweka said the speed at which the virus is spreading is worrying. In less than a week, it has spread to at least 12 countries where cases have been confirmed, and possibly another 15 countries which has suspected cases.
The countries range from the US, Canada and Peru over Europe to Israel, South Korea and New Zealand. There are two unconfirmed cases in South Africa.
Meanwhile, the Africa desk of WHO has announced it is undertaking a strategic pre-positioning of stockpiles of the antiviral drug Tamiflu and personal protective equipment throughout the region.
It is also mapping laboratory and human resources capability at country and regional levels to enable rapid response to any suspected outbreaks.
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