Swine flu causing havoc, Zambia on alert

By Pelekelo Liswaniso

SWINE influenza, also known as swine flu is a deadly viral disease which has so far claimed at least 152 people, with 1,614 suspected victims still under observation in Mexico, raising world-wide concern as it has the potential of becoming a pandemic.

Already, there are reports that new cases of the flu have been confirmed in New Zealand and Israel. The United Nations has warned that it cannot be contained.

The US, Canada, Spain and Britain have also confirmed cases but no deaths have been reported outside Mexico, where the virus was first reported.

We commend the Ministry of Health for reactivating the national surveillance system to monitor a possible outbreak of the disease in Zambia.

Setting up screening facilities at Lusaka’s International Airport is an indication of how serious the Ministry of Health views the problem.

We urge the ministry to ensure that similar facilities are established at major entry points such as the Livingstone International Airport where there is high traffic of tourists coming into country.

It is gratifying that although Zambia is geographically far away from the affected countries, Government is on high alert.

The government is obviously aware that the country is not immune to infections because the disease is airborne and the virus can easily spread from one area to another.

Health Minister Kapembwa Simbao said on Monday that Government is working with the World Health Organisation and the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a public health agency, to mobilise drugs and logistics in case the swine flu breaks out in Zambia.

Swine flu is a respiratory disease suffered by pigs and is caused by an influenza virus, which according to the CDC, the symptoms and transmission of infection from human to human is much like that of seasonal flu.

Common symptoms include fever, lethargy, and lack of appetite and coughing, while runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea have also been reported.

It is believed to be spread between humans through coughing or sneezing of infected people and touching something with the virus on it and then touching their own nose or mouth. Swine flu cannot be spread by pork products, since the virus is not transmitted through food.

To prevent infection, it is recommended that people should take standard personal precautions against influenza.

The public is advised to stay in good general health and observed the recommended standards of hygiene, get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.

We wish to warn people especially those with intense exposure to pigs that they are at risk of infection from these animals, if the animals carry a virus strain that is also able to infect humans.
The current swine flu outbreak is the spread of a new strain of an influenza virus A (H1N1) that was first detected by health agencies in March 2009 in three areas in Mexico.

The CDC has recommended the use of drugs for the treatment and prevention of swine influenza viruses but that the virus isolates that have been tested from the US and Mexico have shown resistance.

We call on the public to cooperate with the medical authorities and observe personal precautions against influenza during this difficult time.

We also appeal to other stakeholders to mount sensitisation campaigns about swine flu and assist the government to adequately prepare the nation for any eventuality.