The Herald (Harare)
Published by the government of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe: No Need to Panic Over Swine Flu - Minister

Michael Padera

10 July 2009


Harare — HEALTH and Child Welfare Minister Henry Madzorera yesterday urged health workers to be extra vigilant in their surveillance of seasonal influenza for them to better detect and respond swiftly to any suspected cases of deadly A H1N1 influenza commonly referred to as swine flu.

The Government has, however, said it was ready to deal with the virus and there was no need for Zimbabweans to panic. Swine flu, which has been detected on all six continents, was declared a pandemic on June 11, making it the first global flu epidemic in 41 years. The call by Minister Madzorera follows two reports of the deadly A H1N1 virus in Harare.

He said the visiting Asian man who recently arrived in Zimbabwe was under observation at a house in Belvedere after he tested positive to the virus. Minister Madzorera said the man consulted a doctor after he learnt that his London hosts had tested positive to swine flu virus.

"The doctor has advised him to stay at home, which is usual. He is under observation. He went to see the doctor because he was a contact person. He is not sick, he is just under observation," said Minister Madzorera. He promised to give an update on the man should he develop swine flu symptoms or be declared free of the virus.

He said the other case involved a Zimbabwean athlete visiting South Africa who was diagnosed as having the flu. "In Zimbabwe, no case has been reported, but a young Zimbabwean athlete visiting South Africa has reportedly been diagnosed as having the flu. We are yet to establish details of the case," he said.

He said the virus was originally linked to pigs, but has been spread subsequently from human to human.

The virus has been reported in over 100 countries resulting in 94 512 cases and 429 deaths since April. In Africa 11 countries  Algeria, Cape Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Libya, Kenya, Mauritius, Morocco, South Africa and Uganda  have reported cases. The signs and symptoms for the swine flu are generally the same as those for ordinary flu but may be more severe.

"They include headache, fever above 38 degrees Celsius, chills, severe cough, body aches, sore throat, shortness of breath, fatigue and possible pneumonia," said Minister Madzorera. He said a person is more at risk if they have the symptoms and have visited a country known to have reported the flu or have been in close contact with anyone who has A H1N1.

"In order to protect yourself from influenza A H1N1, it is important to avoid close contact with people who appear unwell and who have fever and cough. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap or ash under running water especially after coughing or sneezing.

"If you cough into a cloth, wash it thoroughly and dry it in the sun or iron it and if you use tissue dispose of it properly," he said.

Read comments. Write your own.

More News on allAfrica.com

Copyright © 2009 The Herald. 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.

AllAfrica - All the Time
Author: buddhamate
Sat Jul 11 12:17:11 2009

What's swine flu when you've got a pig that calls himself President!!!!!!

Author: zola zazu zambezi zulu
Sat Jul 11 15:58:34 2009

Maybe Madzorera will arrest swine flu the way Mugabe arrested Cholera and they will be in cells next to one another.

Author: upliftdarace_144
Mon Jul 13 21:17:02 2009

Swine Flu Smoking Gun? CDC was Combining Flu Viruses in 2004

[http://www.naturalnews.com/026159.html]

Daniel 11: 34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be helped with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with FLATTERIES.

#1 Don’t Be tricked Into Allowing Yourself And Your Families To be Quietly Killed By These So-Called Vaccinations.

#2 VACCINATIONS FRAUD AND DANGERS Vaccine Safety Manual By Neil Z. Miller "for Concerned Familiesand Health Practitioners" ( 548 pages) [http://thinktwice.com/ ]

#3 Check Out This Directive : Called The Georgia GuideStones

[The Agenda Of The Antichrist aka The Georgia Guidestones] 10 POINTS LIKE… [Read Full Text]

Author: upliftdarace_144
Mon Jul 13 21:18:46 2009

Swine Flu Smoking Gun? CDC was Combining Flu Viruses in 2004

[http://www.naturalnews.com/026159.html]

Daniel 11: 34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be helped with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with FLATTERIES.

#1 Don’t Be tricked Into Allowing Yourself And Your Families To be Quietly Killed By These So-Called Vaccinations.

#2 VACCINATIONS FRAUD AND DANGERS Vaccine Safety Manual By Neil Z. Miller "for Concerned Familiesand Health Practitioners" ( 548 pages) [http://thinktwice.com/ ]

#3 Check Out This Directive : Called The Georgia GuideStones

[The Agenda Of The Antichrist aka The Georgia Guidestones] 10 POINTS LIKE… [Read Full Text]



Sign up for FREE daily 'top headlines' by email »


SELECT
SELECT

Topics