9 February 2006
The Department of Health is constantly monitoring global health developments
and as such takes note of the recent confirmation of H5N1 avian influenza in
domestic birds in Nigeria. The Department wishes to emphasise that the recent
development, although in our continent, should not be a cause for panic, as it
poses no health risk to the South African population.
South Africa's animal health surveillance and monitoring system is
commendable and this fact has been confirmed by the World Organisation of
Animal Health (IOE), who recently declared the country avian flu free.
To date no cases of bird flu caused by the H5N1 strain have been reported in
South Africa. The recent strain - H5N2, last detected in August 2004 at ostrich
farms in the Eastern Cape - has since been successfully contained.
However the Department will continue to strengthen its measures to reduce
opportunities for human exposure to infection of the virus. These will be
achieved through ongoing efforts - in collaborative with our counterparts with
the Department of Agriculture to ensure rapid detection of poultry outbreaks
and monitoring our main points of entry.
The Department has recently finalised a draft Human Influenza Preparedness
Plan, which is a framework for the management and preparation for future
pandemics. The Plan makes provision for the establishment of the Outbreak
Response Team under the leadership of the Department of Health and the National
Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD). It also draws input from the broader
stakeholders including government departments, private health sector, drug
manufacturers and community representatives and provides guidelines on how best
to prevent and control infectious diseases.
Through the implementation of this plan, several measures such as the
maintenance of essential emergency service, laboratory service, surveillance,
research and evaluation, investigation and treatment of cases, will be
strengthened to enable the country to respond adequately to any flu outbreak
that may occur.
In the absence of a vaccine to prevent the spread of the virus, countries
around the world have been discussing a variety of options including Tami flu,
identified by the WHO as the best anti-viral drug available today for
prophylaxis and treatment of the human influenza.
The Medical Control Council (MCC) is currently proceeding with the process
of speeding up the registration of the drug in South Africa.
Enquiries:
Solly Mabotha
Director: Media Liaison & Public Information
Tel: (012) 312 0609
Cell: 083 678 9860
Issued by: Department of Health
9 February 2006
