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Compiled by the Government Communication and Information System Date: 28 Apr 2009 Title: S Africans urged not to panic over Swine Flu -------------------- By Chris Bathembu Pretoria - The Health Department has appealed to South Africans not to panic over the Swine Flu currently experienced in some parts of the world. The Department's spokesperson Fidele Hadebe said on Tuesday there had been no cases of Swine Flu reported in South Africa. "However, adequate measures have been taken to ensure the country's preparedness and response should any cases be identified in the country," he said Outbreak Response Teams are operational in all provinces, Training of Provincial Rapid Response Teams on Influenza pandemic preparedness and response have been conducted in all provinces, and heightened clinical and laboratory surveillance are in place to identify any suspected human case(s) of Swine Influenza. The department is also working closely with various stakeholders including the National Institute of Communicable Diseases, the Department of Agriculture and the World Health Organisation (WHO) to keep a close eye on the situation. On Monday, the WHO reported an outbreak of Swine Influenza A (H1N1) in Mexico, where 103 people have been killed. There are also reported cases in the United States, Spain and Canada. Swine Flu is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses, but also affects humans. The recent outbreak has shown that person-to-person transmission is taking place and this is of particular concern to the health authorities. Simon Streicher, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the South African Pork Producers Organisation, explained the flu strain was a mutant human strain with some genetic material from versions of the strains usually found in birds and pigs. Mr Streicher said since the outbreak of exotic viral diseases such as classical swine fever in recent years, South Africa has taken steps to reduce the risk of importing "foreign" diseases. The steps include compartmentalisation of commercial herds, ongoing training and education in biosecurity for any pig farming operation and strict import protocols for live pigs, semen & pork products. He said no decision has been taken at this stage to follow Russia's example to ban imports of pork or related products from Mexico or the USA. The disease is spread through contact with infected pigs or a human with Swine Flu. Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people. However, one can not get Swine Flu from eating pork of pork products. Symptoms include fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea. Emergency warning signs include difficulty breathing, pain or pressure in the chest and sudden dizziness. In children, emergency warning signs include fast breathing or troubled breathing, not drinking enough fluids, not waking up or not interacting. Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and a worsened cough and fever with a rash. The flu is treatable, however, there is no vaccine available right now to protect against swine flu. - BuaNews |
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