Published Date: 2010-02-09 11:44:43
Subject: PRO/EAFR> Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (10): Senegal
Archive Number: 20100209.205388
INFLUENZA PANDEMIC (H1N1) 2009 (10): SENEGAL
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A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org
Date: Tue 9 Feb 2010
Source: African Press Agency (APA) [edited]
http://www.apanews.net/apa.php?page=show_article_eng&id_article=117667
Local media reports swine flu [influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus
infection] outbreak in Senegal
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Senegal has been hit by the A (H1N1) epidemic influenza (swine flu)
after detecting the 1st cases in Touba and Diourbel (areas located in
the central part of the country), APA learns on Mon [8 Feb 2010] from
reliable sources.
According to the Mon [8 Feb 2010] issues of local media in the
Senegalese capital, "the 1st cases of influenza A patients were
reported in Touba and Diourbel." Both districts affected by the swine
flu have hosted last week [week ending 7 Feb 2010] thousands of
Muslims from the Mouride Brotherhood as part of the celebration of
the 115th edition of "Grand Magal" [pilgrimage] of Touba, in memory
of the departure into exile in Gabon in 1895 of the founder of the
Brotherhood, Sheikh Ahmadou Bamba.
"The early detection of the 1st swine flu patients was made possible
by the epidemiological surveillance system put in place during the
celebration of the 115th edition of Grand Magal of Touba," Dakar
daily "Le Populaire" disclosed.
"For now, no case of death related to the influenza onset was
reported," says the paper, which adds further that "the 1st victims
of the epidemic who had been isolated immediately after the
confirmation of the physicians' diagnosis, have been treated and released."
--
Communicated by:
ProMED-EAFR
[The current report highlights the value of sustained and targeted
surveillance to detect, isolate, and treat all new pandemic H1N1
cases even in countries where cases haven't been detected to date.
A map showing the regions of Senegal can be seen at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regions_of_Senegal. The
HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of Senegal is available at
http://healthmap.org/r/00-d. - Mod.JFW]