Swine flu death toll in SAfrica climbs to 20 ; 9 pregnant women

[Gert van der Hoek]

24/08/2009 14:19 JOHANNESBURG, Aug 24 (AFP)

Swine flu death toll in SAfrica climbs to 18


South Africa's swine flu death toll has risen to 18 from a total of more than 5,000 cases as health authorities Monday urged critical care for pregnant women with flu-like symptoms.

"Nine of the deaths have been in pregnant woman, with the majority in the third trimester of pregnancy," the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) said in a statement.

"It is critical that pandemic influenza A(H1N1) infection should receive particular attention in any pregnant woman with influenza-like illness."

Other risk factors for severe illness were people with asthma, diabetes, any chronic heart and lung condition and any cause of depressed immunity.

However, the NICD said the bulk of infections were mild, adding that routine testing was not needed to guide treatment.

The country's first case was detected on June 18.

http://www.africasia.com/services/news/newsitem.php?area=africa&item=090824141957.jhvzroy0.php

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Swine flu death toll in SAfrica climbs to 20 ; 9 pregnant women

Source: http://www.zeenews.com/news558442.html

20 swine flu deaths, 5,000 affected in SA
Updated on Wednesday, August 26, 2009, 14:35

Durban: Twenty people have died of swine flu in South Africa and more than 5000 have been affected by the A(H1N1) virus.

South African Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said today that majority of the deaths were pregnant women and some having under-lying illnesses such as diabetes and TB.

He said the Government was concerned that an increasing number of pregnant women were falling victims to the A(H1N1) influenza.

We would like to emphasise that pregnant women should immediately consult their medical practitioners as soon as they notice flu-like symptoms, Motsoaledi said.

"The directive to all health care workers, in line with our Pandemic Influenza guidelines, is to put pregnant women with flu-like symptoms on Tamiflu treatment," the minister said.

The Minister also said that as part of government's communication efforts on the pandemic, the Health department has established a hotline and an email address, where the public could request more information or ask specific questions related to the A(H1N1) virus.

The first victim of swine flu death in South Africa was a 22-year-old student from Stellenbosh University in Cape Town.

Bureau Report