Five laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza A N1H1, commonly known as swine flu, have been confirmed in the North West province. The cases were reported in Hartbeespoort, Rustenburg, Mafikeng and two in Potchefstroom. All patients have been treated and discharged.
All cases have travel history.
The public is urged not to panic as the department’s communicable disease directorate has already coordinated and put on high alert well resourced provincial outbreak response teams in the subdistrict. The outbreak response teams have been trained on basic knowledge of symptoms and treatment of influenza A H1N1.
The department has therefore ensured adequate stock of Tami flu. The public is however made aware of the fact that Tami flu is meant for any confirmed case and are therefore not for any common flu. Guidelines on responding to an influenza outbreak had been disseminated to all health facilities and outbreak response teams have been dispatched to all sub districts in the province. The province’s border control was also given guidelines to prevent the spread of the epidemic in the province and is closely working with the department’s communicable diseases unit.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) cases of influenza A H1N1 can be confirmed, using laboratory diagnosis. All provincial laboratories have put in place diagnosis systems.
The symptoms of swine influenza are: fever; body aches; runny nose; sore throat, nausea and vomiting/diarrhoea. Anyone with these symptoms, especially with recent history of travel to affected countries that have confirmed influenza A H1N1 should consult their nearest health facility.
Enquiries:
Tebogo Lekgethwane
Cell: 082 929 9958
Cell: 078 170 0037
Issued by: Department of Health and Social Development, North West Provincial Government
14 July 2009
