Published Date: 2010-04-11 07:22:52
Subject: PRO/EAFR> Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (14): Namibia
Archive Number: 20100411.206681

INFLUENZA PANDEMIC (H1N1) 2009 (14): NAMIBIA
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International Society for Infectious Diseases
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Date: Fri 9 Apr 2010
Source: Africa Online, The Namibian, report [edited]
http://allafrica.com/stories/printable/201004090455.html


New Swine Flu Cases: Namibia (Swakopmund)
-----------------------------------------
At least 2 cases of the H1N1 flu [Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009],
also known as swine flu, have been confirmed at Swakopmund. They are
the 1st cases of the flu strain reported in Namibia this year [2010],
and come at a time when the health authorities are preparing a
national H1N1 vaccination campaign due to start in May [2010]. When
The Namibian called Dr Jack Vries, who heads the National Health
Emergency Management Committee, for comment on the latest cases, he
said it was the 1st he had heard about it. "This is very bad news
since no one informed us about the cases. There must be a break in
communication here," he said. "We will have to follow this up immediately."

A group of 13 Swakopmunders returned to Namibia from a golf vacation
in Phuket, Thailand, 2 weeks ago, and on arrival at Hosea Kutako
Airport in Windhoek, most of them were suffering from flu-like
symptoms. According to one of the possible patients, who is still
awaiting the results of his test, they went to their respective
doctors who took swabs and sent the samples to local pathology
centres. Then, 4 days later, it was confirmed that 2 of the people
had the H1N1 virus, but it is believed that more could have tested
positive. One of those who tested positive to H1N1 confirmed it to
The Namibian.

"I believe we contracted it in Phuket because one of our members
already showed flu-like symptoms there. When we came back to Namibia
on the Sunday (28 Mar 2010), nearly all of us had the flu. But at
that stage we were not even thinking of swine flu," he said. Most of
them received Tamiflu antiviral treatment and are well again. "By the
time I got my result, I had recovered from the flu," the patient said.

The Namibian contacted a local pathology centre to get more detail.
According to them, one patient tested positive for H1N1. The child of
one of the people who had visited Phuket was also said to have
contracted H1N1, but when the principal of the child's school was
contacted, he denied the "rumour." "She did go to a doctor, but there
was no feedback at all whether she has got H1N1," he said. One of the
doctors who treated some of the suspected cases said he had not
received any confirmation yet about his patients, but added that he
did know of 2 confirmed cases. "It should be standard procedure that
once we get a confirmed case the national emergency committee is
notified," he said. Another doctor, who had treated one of the 2
confirmed cases, could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Dr Vries said that 220 000 doses of H1N1 vaccine will arrive from the
World Health Organization (WHO) soon, after which a national
vaccination campaign will be launched in May [2010]. "It will take
place in categories with those most vulnerable to the virus," he
said. First all health workers will be immunised; then children
between the ages of 6 months and one year, and then pregnant women.
Only after that will people suffering from chronic illnesses come
into consideration. Dr Vries also said that the Namibia Institute for
Pathology (NIP) would soon be conducting H1N1 tests in Windhoek and
would be able to release results within 24 hours, compared to a week
or more, as is the case with samples sent to South Africa.

[Byline: Adam Hartman]

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-EAFR


[The current report of pandemic H1N1 infection among international
travellers returning to Namibia from Thailand is an indication that
despite the decline in pandemic H1N1 activity in the WHO-AFRO region,
countries need to maintain surveillance to detect cases like these
and any new waves due to either pandemic H1N1 or any other influenza
infections due to a new sub-type.

A map showing the regions of Namibia can be seen at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regions_of_Namibia, and the
HealthMap/ProMED interactive map of Namibia is available at
http://healthmap.org/r/009I. - Mod.JFW]

See Also

Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (13): Rwanda 20100407.206598
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (12): Egypt 20100224.205724
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (11): Egypt 20100218.205604
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (10): Senegal 20100209.205388
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (09): Egypt 20100201.205225
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (08): Egypt 20100121.205062

Additional background information on influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009
is available from the general ProMED-mail list. The postings below
can be found at http://www.promedmail.org. - Mod.JFW

Influenza pandemic (H1N1) (28): Hong Kong SAR, Norway, D222G mutation
20100409.1147
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) (27): USA (GA) 20100330.1004
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) (26): WHO update 20100327.0965
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) (25): oseltamivir resistance 20100326.0961
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) (24): mutation analysis 20100313.0820
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) (23): WHO Update 20100313.0805
...................................jfw/ejp/be

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