Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/200909180945.html
Mozambique: Second Death from Swine Flu
18 September 2009
Maputo ? A second person has died of the H1N1 variety of influenza, better known as swine flu, in Mozambique.
The assistant national director of health, Leonardo Chavane, told a press conference on Friday that the first victim was a 45 year old man who died on 4 September, and the second was a 29 year old woman who died two days later. (This contradicted a statement made by Chavane earlier in the week, which said the woman was the first victim).
Currently there are 71 suspected cases of the disease in Mozambique, and 29 confirmed cases (18 women, nine men and 11 children).
Most cases have been diagnosed in Maputo, but there are also two cases in the southern province of Gaza and one each in Tete and Sofala, in the centre of the country.
Chavane said that in almost all the cases, the sufferers had been traveling and picked up the disease from contact with infected people while abroad.
Mozambique has no laboratory certified to analyse cases of H1N1 flu, and so final confirmation as to whether a person is infected depends on the regional laboratory in South Africa.
There is no shortage of anti-influenza medicines. Chavane said the country has enough stocks to deal with 30,000 cases.
Mozambique: Second Death from Swine Flu
18 September 2009
Maputo ? A second person has died of the H1N1 variety of influenza, better known as swine flu, in Mozambique.
The assistant national director of health, Leonardo Chavane, told a press conference on Friday that the first victim was a 45 year old man who died on 4 September, and the second was a 29 year old woman who died two days later. (This contradicted a statement made by Chavane earlier in the week, which said the woman was the first victim).
Currently there are 71 suspected cases of the disease in Mozambique, and 29 confirmed cases (18 women, nine men and 11 children).
Most cases have been diagnosed in Maputo, but there are also two cases in the southern province of Gaza and one each in Tete and Sofala, in the centre of the country.
Chavane said that in almost all the cases, the sufferers had been traveling and picked up the disease from contact with infected people while abroad.
Mozambique has no laboratory certified to analyse cases of H1N1 flu, and so final confirmation as to whether a person is infected depends on the regional laboratory in South Africa.
There is no shortage of anti-influenza medicines. Chavane said the country has enough stocks to deal with 30,000 cases.
