Published Date: 2010-05-24 15:31:13
Subject: PRO/EAFR> Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (17): Ghana
Archive Number: 20100524.207546
INFLUENZA PANDEMIC (H1N1) 2009 (17): GHANA
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A ProMED-mail post
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International Society for Infectious Diseases
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Date: Sun 23 May 2010
Source: Myjoyonline.com, Asempa FM (Ghana) report [edited]
http://news.myjoyonline.com/health/201005/46592.asp
About 170 students of St. Martin's Senior High School at Adoagyeri,
near Nsawam in the Akuapem South District of the Eastern Region have
been affected by the H1N1 influenza (swine flu) [virus]. Report says
the symptoms of the disease were first detected on [Sun 15 May 2010]
and since then, the number keeps increasing. A student of the school
told Asempa News that they were quarantined after the detection in a
bungalow to prevent the spread.
"The disease was detected last Sunday [15 May 2010] and we reported
to our teachers. The next day, they called health authorities from
the Ghana Health Service and the students were put in empty
bungalows." Asked why he came home, the student said he detected the
symptoms and so decided to come home and see his doctor, but had not
contracted the disease. Asempa FM's reporter, Michael Oppong reports
from the school that most of the students were seen with their mouths
covered with handkerchiefs for fear of being infected with the
disease.
Oppong, who visited the school during entertainment said "You would
see 10 out of 50 students covering their mouths with handkerchiefs. I
asked them and they said they were protecting themselves from the
swine flu." The Head of the Language Department of the School,
Gabriel Dzededzi, explained that even though the disease has been
detected in the school, it is not being portrayed in the media as an
outbreak.
"The samples were taken to the Noguchi [Laboratory] and they tested
positive. They were about 48 in number, but as I am talking now, 36
of them have been treated, the dormitories have been fumigated and
have gone back," he explained. He said about 12 of them were being
treated at Koforidua Government Hospital as of Saturday [22 May
2010]. Asked why the school authorities do not want parents of the
students to know about the infections, Mr Dzededzi explained that,
"it was not the school that is preventing the parents. It is an
advice from the health team from Koforidua and Nsawam."
The Eastern Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Erasmus
Adongo, confirming the more than 170 cases to Asempa FM said even
though the disease keeps spreading, health authorities are on top of
it. "At the time we detected the disease, we had about 70 of them
affected, but as of yesterday (Sat 22 May 2010), the total number had
gone to one 137, but not all of them are in the isolation, some have
been discharged."
Dr. Adongo said closing the school would not solve the problem as the
students would spread the disease in their various communities. "What
we have done so far is that we have met with the school authorities
to ensure all sporting activities are suspended for the meantime.
From our investigations, the disease started spreading during a
quiz competition in the school and they have a lineup of these activities
so we have asked them to stop."
He added that they have also asked all the nearby schools and
districts to be on the look-out for possible outbreaks of the
disease. Dr. Adongo therefore called on parents of these students not
to panic since the GHS [Ghana Health Services] is on top of it.
[Byline: Kwaku Antwi-Otoo]
--
Communicated by:
ProMED-EAFR
[Ghana continues to experience pandemic H1N1 virus infection flare
ups (see ProMED EAFR posting 20100414.206757). The 21 May 2010 update
from WHO indicated that up to 6 percent of respiratory samples were
positive for pandemic H1N1 (see
http://www.who.int/csr/don/2010_05_21/en/index.html). The current
cluster occurred in a school where cases have been confirmed and
isolated and the school closed off to the public. There is however
need to improve communication with the parents and the public so that
they understand why the current measures are being implemented at the
school. As of 19 May 2010, Ghana had notified 720 cases to the WHO
(see < http://www.afro.who.int/index.php?Itemid=2544 >).
Nsawam can be located via the HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map
of Ghana at http://healthmap.org/r/01jE. Akuapem South District,
Eastern Region, can be seen via the maps at
http://www.maplibrary.org/stacks/Africa/Ghana/index.php. - Mod.JFW]
See Also
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (16): Namibia 20100520.207475Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (15): Ghana 20100414.206757
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (14): Namibia 20100411.206681
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
[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) (33): WHO update 20100522.1700
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) (32): WHO update 20100501.1418
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) (29): seasonal vaccine 20100415.1224
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/mj/be
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