Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.zimtelegraph.com/?p=1399
ZIMBABWE-HARARE-Two cases of Swine Flu have been reported in Zimbabwe following the diagnosis of visiting Asian man who recently arrived in the country with the deadly influenza H1N1, commonly known as swine flu, while an 18-year old local squash player also tested positive with the virus when he went to South Africa for a tournament.
Public health officials confirmed yesterday that a man of Asian origin who recently arrived in Zimbabwe from London had tested positive for the virus and was currently quarantined at a house in the Harare suburb of Belvedere.
Sources indicated the people who stay at the London house where the Asian man was residing also tested positive for swine flu.
?He is being kept in quarantine so that the disease does not spread. He is still in the country.
?He is at a house in Belvedere,? said a source in the public health sector.
The Minister of Health and Child Welfare Henry Madzorera confirmed the case of the 18-year old Zimbabwe squash player.
?Yes there is an 18-year old athlete playing squash who among others was diagnosed with the infection. He is being treated in South Africa,? Madzorera.
Madzorera said the athlete was part of a group that had tested positive.
He said Government was now investigating whether the athlete contracted the disease here or in South Africa.
On the issue of the Asian man he said, ?I cannot confirm the other case. We do not have the details yet.?
Madzorera promised to issue a comprehensive statement on swine flu today.
He, however, said the country was well prepared to fight the epidemic.
?We have 21 400 courses of drugs to treat swine flu. These are enough to treat 21 400 people. That is what we are holding just in case anything happens,? he said.
Madzorera said the World Health Organisation provided the drugs to help fight the disease globally.
He said his ministry was intensifying surveillance at the country?s borders, airports, communities and local clinics.
Madzorera said WHO also provided protective clothing for doctors and nurses.
?In terms of preparedness (to fight the disease), we are prepared,? he said.
WHO has declared swine flu a pandemic making the present outbreak the first outbreak to be classified as such in 41 years.
Infections in the United States, Europe, Australia, South America and elsewhere have climbed to more than 30 000 cases.
The last pandemic ? the Hong Kong flu of 1968 ? killed about 1 million people.
Ordinary flu kills about 250 000 to 500 000 each year.-The Zimbabwe Telegraph
ZIMBABWE-HARARE-Two cases of Swine Flu have been reported in Zimbabwe following the diagnosis of visiting Asian man who recently arrived in the country with the deadly influenza H1N1, commonly known as swine flu, while an 18-year old local squash player also tested positive with the virus when he went to South Africa for a tournament.
Public health officials confirmed yesterday that a man of Asian origin who recently arrived in Zimbabwe from London had tested positive for the virus and was currently quarantined at a house in the Harare suburb of Belvedere.
Sources indicated the people who stay at the London house where the Asian man was residing also tested positive for swine flu.
?He is being kept in quarantine so that the disease does not spread. He is still in the country.
?He is at a house in Belvedere,? said a source in the public health sector.
The Minister of Health and Child Welfare Henry Madzorera confirmed the case of the 18-year old Zimbabwe squash player.
?Yes there is an 18-year old athlete playing squash who among others was diagnosed with the infection. He is being treated in South Africa,? Madzorera.
Madzorera said the athlete was part of a group that had tested positive.
He said Government was now investigating whether the athlete contracted the disease here or in South Africa.
On the issue of the Asian man he said, ?I cannot confirm the other case. We do not have the details yet.?
Madzorera promised to issue a comprehensive statement on swine flu today.
He, however, said the country was well prepared to fight the epidemic.
?We have 21 400 courses of drugs to treat swine flu. These are enough to treat 21 400 people. That is what we are holding just in case anything happens,? he said.
Madzorera said the World Health Organisation provided the drugs to help fight the disease globally.
He said his ministry was intensifying surveillance at the country?s borders, airports, communities and local clinics.
Madzorera said WHO also provided protective clothing for doctors and nurses.
?In terms of preparedness (to fight the disease), we are prepared,? he said.
WHO has declared swine flu a pandemic making the present outbreak the first outbreak to be classified as such in 41 years.
Infections in the United States, Europe, Australia, South America and elsewhere have climbed to more than 30 000 cases.
The last pandemic ? the Hong Kong flu of 1968 ? killed about 1 million people.
Ordinary flu kills about 250 000 to 500 000 each year.-The Zimbabwe Telegraph