Luphert Chilwane
10 July 2009
Johannesburg — THE National Institute for Communicable Diseases said yesterday it was concerned about the increased number of Novel influenza AH1N1 virus cases -- better known as swine flu -- and a plan to manage the virus was needed.
The number of people in SA confirmed to be infected with the virus was 48 yesterday afternoon.
Nombuso Shabalala, institute spokeswoman, said yesterday all the confirmed cases were mild. Patients were treated in hospitals, and discharged immediately.
"But we are concerned about the number which seems to be increasing on a daily basis.
"Unfortunately, at this stage, we are unable to contain the virus."
She said plans to manage the virus would be unveiled next week.
"We have been getting the virus from international travellers coming from countries with an outbreak of the virus," Shabalala said.
Most cases were in Gauteng. In other provinces, individuals had become infected in Gauteng, and began to show symptoms after returning home.
The first case of the virus in Mpumalanga was recorded on Wednesday, evidently after the patient visited Johannesburg.
Mpumalanga provincial health spokesman Mpho Gabashane said the 30-year-old man from Mhluzi in the Steve Tshwete municipality (Middelburg) tested positive after complaining of a sore throat and muscle pain.
Fidel Hadebe, Department of Health spokesman, said patients with the virus appeared to have a mild illness, with no major complications.
"So far, cases reported in the country have been mild. The few patients that were hospitalised, such as the 12-year-old boy, our first case, have since fully recovered. All other cases have also fully recovered, except for the 16 new ones confirmed on Tuesday who are recovering at home," he said.
Thermal scanners used to detect illnesses at international airports could not pick up the virus.
"Thermal scanners can pick up the body temperature but cannot determine the presence of the virus. As the department, we are not panicking about the virus, when we have confirmed the cases, we tell the patient to go home and rest as we do with flu patients", Hadebe said.
Those who had been travelling or had contact with a confirmed patient of influenza AH1N1, experiencing flu-like symptoms such as fever, sore throat, runny nose or nasal congestion, cough or muscle pain, should seek medical care.
The department said once 100 cases had been confirmed in SA, health authorities would stop the individual laboratory confirmation of cases as it would no longer be essential for monitoring.
Democratic Alliance health spokesman Jack Bloom said the department should be open about figures, and educate the public about the virus.
The precise number of cases in each province could not be ascertained, but rough numbers are:
- Limpopo could not confirm.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2009 Business Day. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
