Fiji swine flu case is negative

[Sally Furniss]

Fiji reports first suspected swine flu case
Asia, Thu, 30 Apr 2009 IANS

Suva, April 30 (Xinhua) Fiji's health officials were monitoring a New Zealand tourist suspected of being infected with the swine flu virus, the health ministry said Thursday.

Officials at the ministry said Fiji's first suspected swine flu case, who arrived in the resort city of Nadi from New Zealand April 26, has shown no symptoms of the disease so far.

The suspected person was located from Lautoka, the second largest city of Fiji located some 25 km Nadi, officials said, adding that another person suspected of being infected with the deadly virus managed to fly back to New Zealand.

The New Zealand authorities alerted the Fiji government about the alleged case but it was unclear why the traveller was allowed through.

The human swine influenza A (H1N1) outbreak is evolving rapidly. Nine countries have so far reported cases of the infection.

New Zealand Thursday confirmed 16 swine flu cases, increasing the likelihood that the infection could spread to the Pacific Island countries and territories.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) are working to support countries like Fiji in responding quickly and efficiently to this public health threat.

'We have asked all Pacific countries and territories to immediately notify WHO if they identify any suspected cases of the swine flu as requested by the international health regulations,' said Jacob Kool, head of WHO's communicable disease surveillance and response office for the South Pacific region.

'They are also asked to report to us twice a week on the total number of influenza cases,' he added.

The health authorities in all Pacific countries were initially alerted about the situation April 25.

http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/91951

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Re: Fiji reports first suspected swine flu case

http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=120408

Swine flu suspect in contact with confirmed cases

By ELENOA BASELALA
Thursday, April 30, 2009

Dr Josaia Samuela ... Fiji's chief advisor on family health + Enlarge this image

Dr Josaia Samuela ... Fiji's chief advisor on family health

Update: 6:06PM THE tourist who is under close observation for the swine flu virus was in contact with the group of New Zealand students who returned on a three-week excursion to Mexico.

National advisor on family health Doctor Josaia Samuela said the tourist was in contact with the group of students from Rangitoto College. Four of the students were confirmed with the flu.

Dr Samuela said although the tourist was yet to develop any symptoms of the flu, monitoring would continue as the incubation period of the virus takes up to seven days.

Meanwhile, when asked by Fiji Times Online to elaborate on the national plan and measures that would be activated if a case of swine flu is confirmed, taskforce chairman Joeli Cawaki said they were still meeting with stakeholders to discuss the resources available.

The taskforce was also unable to specify how much Tamiflu _ the antiviral for the swine flu _was in their stock.

The stockpile was given to the ministry by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community during the avian flu outbreak in Asian countries.

Dr Samuela said the Fiji Pharmaceutical Society has not been instructed to procure Tamiflu and that only the Government Pharmacy had a supply of the drugs.

[kiwibird]

Re: Fiji reports first suspected swine flu case

http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=120403

Tourist held up over swine flu concerns

By ELENOA BASELALA
Thursday, April 30, 2009

Mataika House + Enlarge this image

Mataika House

Update: 1:50PM A NEW Zealand traveller was temporarily held by Fiji quarantine officials as surveillance for swine flu at the countrys boarders were ramped up.

The tourist was later found to be healthy and free of any flu symptoms, said World Health Organisation's team leader (Communicable Disease Surveillance and Response) Doctor James Kool.

Meanwhile, security has been tightened at Mataika House in Tamavua as the nation's laboratory scientists concentrate on testing the flu samples being received.

It is not known how many samples the laboratory has received.

Dr Kool said these were possibly normal routine tests as countries were now required to run tests on flu-like diseases every week.

"They are being encouraged to collect and do tests," he said.

"Most countries have different flu-like diseases so it is important to keep these data, he said.

[kiwibird]

Re: Fiji reports first suspected swine flu case

http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=120336

Flight crew risk

Thursday, April 30, 2009

ALL incoming passengers flying to Nadi Airport are under strict surveillance.

And flight attendants, who are high risk because they are in contact with passengers, have been warned to take precautions.

Airport health inspector Deo Sharan said passengers disembarking in Nadi were physically checked by medical officials.

If anyone is found with symptoms of the flu, they will be thoroughly inspected by a doctor.

Ministry of Health permanent secretary Dr Sala Saketa said they had placed preventative measures with close and strong surveillance of ports of entries.

Mr Sharan said they met the stakeholders at the airport who were aware of the measures they were taking.

"We are instructed to keep those with signs and symptoms in isolation until a medical officer examines and releases them to immigration for clearance," he said.

"We do not want them to mingle around with healthy people in the landing lounge."

Mr Sharan said they were also trying to minimise the number of people going into aircraft when it lands. "Until the aircraft are cleared, we do not want people, including service agents, to go there," he said.

[kiwibird]

Re: Fiji reports first suspected swine flu case

http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=120486

Security forces to run through roles in case of outbreak

Friday, May 01, 2009

Update: 7:54PM THE roles of police and the military in the event of an outbreak of the Influenza A(H1N1) virus will be thoroughly discussed at a meeting tomorrow.

The national influenza pandemic taskforce will meet with police and the military to discuss what steps the security forces would be required to play if the situation warrants their active service.
This follows the taskforce meeting with airport authorities yesterday.
Since the taskforce was activated on Tuesday, it has been setting in place measures and raising awareness on the needed precautions through meetings with a broad range of stakeholders.
Next week, private doctors will be trained to gather flu samples as the nation's high-tech laboratories at Mataika House work tirelessly to check the flu types being suffered by members of the public.
Fiji's chief advisor on communicable diseases Dr Eric Rafai said the intensified surveillance was extremely difficult but necessary.
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry is still tight-lipped on its stock of antiviral drugs like Tamiflu which has largely proved successful when administered to those confirmed with the influenza A(H1N1) virus. The World Health Organisation (WHO), however, has a stockpile which it has pledged to donate to developing countries when the need arises. To date, WHO said as of today, the number of laboratory-confirmed cases stands at 257. Of these, eight deaths have been recorded.

[Sally Furniss]

Re: Fiji reports first suspected swine flu case

No confirmed case of flu but be alert

By DORINE NARAYAN
Tuesday, May 05, 2009

EVEN though there is no confirmed case of Influenza A (H1N1) in Fiji, it does not mean that we should relax and sit back says Ministry of Health spokesman Iliesa Tora.
All four suspected cases reported so far in the past week have come out negative after tests were carried out at the virus laboratory at Mataika House in Tamavua.
Mr Tora said it was a must for everyone to be on the alert and take all precautionary measurers to avoid an outbreak.
"This could be the lull before the storm so the taskforce is working with all border control organisations, the Ministry of Health and the global partners in the World Health Organisation, the Secretariat of the Pacific Community and UNICEF. People are requested to continue to take precautionary measures and practise healthy hygiene practices," he said.
Mr Tora said the fact that we were open to international travel by air and sea meant that we were still prone to getting someone who could be a carrier.
The Health Ministry assured that all health facilities were on standby for treatment of any suspected case and awareness programs have been held with clinics, both in the public and private fields.

http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=120703

[Sally Furniss]

Re: Fiji reports first suspected swine flu case

No confirmed cases of (H1N1) in Fiji
Tuesday, May 05, 2009

There is still no confirmed case of Influenza A (H1N1) in the country.

While work continues on checking flights that arrive into the country and those who are leaving our shores plus vessels that use our ports, there is confirmation today that there has been no positive case so far.

That confirmation was given by the National Task Force on the Influenza A(H1N1) today.

Ministry of Health spokesman Iliesa Tora said that all tests carried out at the Virus Lab in Tamavua have confirmed negative results.

He says although this indicates that the current surveillance system is working there is still need to have the current set up operating at full alert.

?The Task Force has indicated that we will continue to work with the current system we have and we will continue to review the situation as we go into the new day. All our Border Control people are working with the plan that we have and it seems to be working out well. There are certain areas where we will continue to make improvements and we must get the message across that we are still on alert.?

http://www.radiofiji.com.fj/fullstory.php?id=19794