A 20 year old from Pretoria who passed away on 17 August was confirmed by the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) yesterday to have been infected with the H1N1 influenza virus.
The deceased was admitted in Pretoria West hospital, Tshwane with tonsillitis on 8 August and later discharged after three days. The deceased later developed severe respiratory distress and was transferred to Kalafong Hospital (Tshwane) where she was in the intensive care unit until her death on 17 August. The H1N1 infection was confirmed by the NICD late yesterday afternoon. The NICD is the only World Health Organisation (WHO) reference laboratory in South Africa concerning the H1N1 influenza pandemic.
This latest death brings to seven the number of deaths linked to the H1N1 influenza pandemic. The Department of Health is continuing to manage the spread of the influenza according to its guidelines which are in line with the WHO's guidelines in this regard.
Testing of for H1N1 influenza is only on recommendation by doctors in line with the clinical guidelines that were circulated to clinicians soon after the outbreak in some parts of South America. Treatment (usulally Tamiflu) should be prescribed by a doctor and is only recommended for those with mild symptoms (but belonging in the high-risk category such as pregnant women, people living with chronic diseases such as diabetes, tuberculosis (TB), HIV and AIDS, hypertension), moderate symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, persistent vomiting and those with severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing (respiratory distress), severe drowsiness and loss of consciousness. Mass treatment with Tamiflu can lead to mass resistance to the drug and render it useless even for those individuals for whom it may be life-saving.
Experience throughout the world has shown that the closure of schools, institutions of higher learning and places of business have not been effective in stemming the spread of the disease.
People who experience mild symptoms and are not in the high-risk category should stay at home and avoid contact. Practicing of basic hygiene such as regular washing of hands, coughing and sneezing into one's sleeve or using a tissue paper are some of the measures that are strongly encouraged in mitigating the spread and impact of the influenza.
Members of the public who require information on the H1N1 Influenza can call the hotline centre on 0861 364 232 or via e-mail at H1N1@health.gov.za.
For more information please contact:
Fidel Hadebe
Tel: 012 312 0663
Cell: 079 517 3333
Issued by: Department of Health
20 August 2009
