On Wednesday, 7 July 2009, sixteen new cases of novel influenza A H1N1 were confirmed in South Africa.
The sixteen cases, all either travellers or associated with the recent university sporting tournament, presented with flu-like symptoms at various medical centres and confirmed positive by the National Institute of Communicable Diseases. To date, the total number of confirmed cases reported in the country is 47.
The patients appear to have mild illness, with no complications so far and are being managed in accordance with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Department of Health guidelines. In line with the WHO recent advisory, the increase in the number of cases globally, including in South Africa, is inevitable.
Once a total of 100 cases has been confirmed in South Africa, health authorities will stop the individual laboratory confirmation of cases as this will no longer be essential for monitoring either the level of or nature of the risk posed by the pandemic virus or to guide implementation of the most appropriate response measures. We will thereafter concentrate on surveillance at sentinel sites and laboratory confirmation of moderate or severe cases, in line with the recommendations from the World Health Organisation.
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 yesterday who are recovering at home.
The Department of Health advises anybody with a travel history or who has been in contact with a confirmed patient of influenza A H1N1 and who experiences a flu-like symptoms such as fever, sore throat, runny nose or nasal congestion, cough or muscle pain within seven days after arrival or contact with an infected person to seek medical care from the nearest health facility.
For more information please contact:
Fidel Hadebe
Tel: 012 312 0663
Cell: 079 517-3333.
Issued by the Department of Health
8 July 2009
