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Solomon Islands issues swine flu alert
A multi-sectoral task force has been activated by the Solomon Islands Ministry of Health to deal with the deadly swine influenza virus currently spreading in the United States, Mexico and Canada, reports Island Sun.
Island Sun
Thu, 30 Apr 2009
HONIARA, Solomon Islands ---- A multi-sectoral task force has been activated by the Solomon Islands Ministry of Health to deal with the deadly swine influenza virus currently spreading in the United States, Mexico and Canada, reports Island Sun.
This was done following the issuing of a health alert by the Ministry of Health, Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) yesterday.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Medical Service Dr Lester Ross said as with when bird flu threatened countries in the Asia and Pacific a task force is again managing the Solomon Island Ministry of health?s response to recent threat of swine flu epidemic.
He said the Ministry was in a good position to manage an outbreak of swine flu due to its previous experience in preparing for other epidemics.
The United States, Mexico and Canada have reported outbreaks of the new virus called Swine Influenza (A/H1N1) with fears the infection may soon spread to other countries due to its ability to spread from person to person like regular flu.
Swine flu is spread from coughing, sneezing and from touching contaminated surfaces.
The infection is said to cause a flu-like severe respiratory disease, with fever and cough, and may lead to difficulty breathing and death.
Other symptoms may include sneezing, body aches, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and tiredness.
Dr Ross said hygiene is the best way to prevent an outbreak of the flu adding that everyone in the country has a role to play to ensure this sickness doesn?t come to the Solomon Islands.
He went on to say that the flu seemed to focus primarily in the Americas in USA and Mexico, and other cases identified in a few countries including New Zealand.
?At this stage there is no need for a country wide entry screening nor is there need to restrict travel to countries experiencing Swine Influenza, however people should avoid travel when they are sick,? he added.
Dr. Ross assured the public that it was not possible to get the flu from eating pork as what a lot of people had asked.
A multi-sectoral task force has been activated by the Solomon Islands Ministry of Health to deal with the deadly swine influenza virus currently spreading in the United States, Mexico and Canada, reports Island Sun.
Island Sun
Thu, 30 Apr 2009
HONIARA, Solomon Islands ---- A multi-sectoral task force has been activated by the Solomon Islands Ministry of Health to deal with the deadly swine influenza virus currently spreading in the United States, Mexico and Canada, reports Island Sun.
This was done following the issuing of a health alert by the Ministry of Health, Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) yesterday.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Medical Service Dr Lester Ross said as with when bird flu threatened countries in the Asia and Pacific a task force is again managing the Solomon Island Ministry of health?s response to recent threat of swine flu epidemic.
He said the Ministry was in a good position to manage an outbreak of swine flu due to its previous experience in preparing for other epidemics.
The United States, Mexico and Canada have reported outbreaks of the new virus called Swine Influenza (A/H1N1) with fears the infection may soon spread to other countries due to its ability to spread from person to person like regular flu.
Swine flu is spread from coughing, sneezing and from touching contaminated surfaces.
The infection is said to cause a flu-like severe respiratory disease, with fever and cough, and may lead to difficulty breathing and death.
Other symptoms may include sneezing, body aches, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and tiredness.
Dr Ross said hygiene is the best way to prevent an outbreak of the flu adding that everyone in the country has a role to play to ensure this sickness doesn?t come to the Solomon Islands.
He went on to say that the flu seemed to focus primarily in the Americas in USA and Mexico, and other cases identified in a few countries including New Zealand.
?At this stage there is no need for a country wide entry screening nor is there need to restrict travel to countries experiencing Swine Influenza, however people should avoid travel when they are sick,? he added.
Dr. Ross assured the public that it was not possible to get the flu from eating pork as what a lot of people had asked.
