Sally Furniss
Well-known member
WHO: Nigeria can diagnose Swine flu
Written by Sola Ogundipe
Monday, 04 May 2009
THE Asokoro District Hospital, National Influenza Diagnostic Laboratory in Abuja has been identified as a facility where diagnosis of Influenza A(H1N1) infection in humans can be made. This development is based on the listing of Nigeria by the World Health Organisation (WHO), as one of the countries capable of diagnosing the Influenza A(H1N1) infection in humans.
The nation got the listing based on the global health body?s approval of countries with Polymerase Chain Reactors (PCR) capacity in place to diagnose the pathogen.
A statement from the Federal Ministry of Health noted that the National Influenza Centres (NICs) of WHO Global Influenza Surveillance Network (GISN) and National Influenza Reference Laboratories provide for countries without NICs but with PCRs to be approved for detection of the influenza pathogen.
Among these requirements are a score of 100 per cent in the last two or more WHO external quality assurance programme panels (EQAP2) or a score of 100 per cent in the last EQAP panel and a history of consistent correct results for earlier panels.
A second emergency meeting of stakeholders and partners on Influenza A(H1N1)at the Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, reviewed the work plan developed for immediate deployment with regards to preparedness and response to influenza A(H1N1). The National Epidemic Preparedness and Response Committee was expanded to include critical Federal Ministries such as Agriculture, Information and Education.
As of yesterday evening, there was no reported incidence or case of swine flu infection in the country, even as the WHO upgraded the influenza pandemic alert to Phase 5. Meanwhile 17 countries had officially reported 787 cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection. Mexico had reported 506 confirmed human cases of infection, including 19 deaths. Reports say the higher number of cases from Mexico reflects ongoing testing of previously collected specimens. The United States Government had reported 160 laboratory confirmed human cases, including one death.
Other countries that reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths were - Austria (1), Canada (70), China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (1), Costa Rica (1), Denmark (1), France (2), Germany (6), Ireland (1), Israel (3), Netherlands (1), New Zealand (4), Republic of Korea (1), Spain (13), Switzerland (1) and the United Kingdom (15).
Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as well as the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) are warning people to look out for web sites and other product promotions that claim to be able to diagnose, prevent, mitigate, cure, and treat the H1N1 influenza virus.
It warned that ?Consumers who purchase products to treat the H1N1 virus that are not approved, cleared or authorized by the FDA for the treatment or prevention of influenza risk their health and the health of their families. According to the body, ?Products being offered for sale promising diagnosis, prevention, mitigation, treatment and a cure for swine flu have not been proven to be effective or safe. The claims are baseless. They are lies.?
http://www.vanguardngr.com/content/view/34979/43/
Written by Sola Ogundipe
Monday, 04 May 2009
THE Asokoro District Hospital, National Influenza Diagnostic Laboratory in Abuja has been identified as a facility where diagnosis of Influenza A(H1N1) infection in humans can be made. This development is based on the listing of Nigeria by the World Health Organisation (WHO), as one of the countries capable of diagnosing the Influenza A(H1N1) infection in humans.
The nation got the listing based on the global health body?s approval of countries with Polymerase Chain Reactors (PCR) capacity in place to diagnose the pathogen.
A statement from the Federal Ministry of Health noted that the National Influenza Centres (NICs) of WHO Global Influenza Surveillance Network (GISN) and National Influenza Reference Laboratories provide for countries without NICs but with PCRs to be approved for detection of the influenza pathogen.
Among these requirements are a score of 100 per cent in the last two or more WHO external quality assurance programme panels (EQAP2) or a score of 100 per cent in the last EQAP panel and a history of consistent correct results for earlier panels.
A second emergency meeting of stakeholders and partners on Influenza A(H1N1)at the Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, reviewed the work plan developed for immediate deployment with regards to preparedness and response to influenza A(H1N1). The National Epidemic Preparedness and Response Committee was expanded to include critical Federal Ministries such as Agriculture, Information and Education.
As of yesterday evening, there was no reported incidence or case of swine flu infection in the country, even as the WHO upgraded the influenza pandemic alert to Phase 5. Meanwhile 17 countries had officially reported 787 cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection. Mexico had reported 506 confirmed human cases of infection, including 19 deaths. Reports say the higher number of cases from Mexico reflects ongoing testing of previously collected specimens. The United States Government had reported 160 laboratory confirmed human cases, including one death.
Other countries that reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths were - Austria (1), Canada (70), China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (1), Costa Rica (1), Denmark (1), France (2), Germany (6), Ireland (1), Israel (3), Netherlands (1), New Zealand (4), Republic of Korea (1), Spain (13), Switzerland (1) and the United Kingdom (15).
Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as well as the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) are warning people to look out for web sites and other product promotions that claim to be able to diagnose, prevent, mitigate, cure, and treat the H1N1 influenza virus.
It warned that ?Consumers who purchase products to treat the H1N1 virus that are not approved, cleared or authorized by the FDA for the treatment or prevention of influenza risk their health and the health of their families. According to the body, ?Products being offered for sale promising diagnosis, prevention, mitigation, treatment and a cure for swine flu have not been proven to be effective or safe. The claims are baseless. They are lies.?
http://www.vanguardngr.com/content/view/34979/43/