Haufiku calls for calm over flu
Sixteen laboratory confirmed cases have been reported since the first one was diagnosed on 22 June.
Health minister Bernard Haufiku has urged Namibians to seek medical attention only if they have severe flu-like illness, especially at this time with the occurrence of the seasonal H1N1 flu which has already claimed two lives.
Haufiku added that to date, 16 laboratory confirmed cases have been reported since the first case was diagnosed on 22 June.
He explained the influenza A (H1N1) pdm09 strain originally emerged in 2009 as an emerging virus. However, this strain is now a recognised as a seasonal influenza virus which has been circulating over the past nine years globally including in the southern African region.
“It is no longer referred to as 'swine flu', but influenza A (H1N1) pdm09. The strain is included in the seasonal flu vaccine which is available in Namibia. Cases peak during the winter season and thus it is expected that there will be people getting ill with flu from this particular strain,” said Haufiku.
According to him the country is currently in the process of establishing an influenza sentinel surveillance to enable it to determine its endemic levels, thresholds and the detection of circulating and emerging strains.
Hepatitis E
Since its outbreak in December last year, 17 people have already succumbed to hepatitis while 147 cases have been confirmed by a laboratory and there are 1 867 suspected cases.
According to Haufiku the latest outbreak of Hepatitis E occurred in Swakopmund's DRC informal settlement this week.
In the Khomas Region, 116 cases were confirmed, while there were 16 in the Omusati Region with 11 of these linked to Windhoek, 23 in Erongo, two in Oshana, four in Otjozondjupa, two in Ohangwena and Hardap each, and in Oshikoto and //Karas, one case each.
“The main drivers identified for the Windhoek Hepatitis E outbreak include open defecation and poor sanitation and hygiene practices. This calls for behavioural change of affected community members. Epidemiological studies determined the areas within the affected informal settlements with inadequate water and sanitation infrastructure such as communal taps, public toilets and latrines were hardest hit by the outbreak,” he said.
According to Haufiku the ongoing vandalism and theft of implemented water and sanitation infrastructure are also some of the major challenges that are preventing the effective containment of the Hepatitis E outbreak in Windhoek.
JEMIMA BEUKES
Haufiku added that to date, 16 laboratory confirmed cases have been reported since the first case was diagnosed on 22 June.
He explained the influenza A (H1N1) pdm09 strain originally emerged in 2009 as an emerging virus. However, this strain is now a recognised as a seasonal influenza virus which has been circulating over the past nine years globally including in the southern African region.
“It is no longer referred to as 'swine flu', but influenza A (H1N1) pdm09. The strain is included in the seasonal flu vaccine which is available in Namibia. Cases peak during the winter season and thus it is expected that there will be people getting ill with flu from this particular strain,” said Haufiku.
According to him the country is currently in the process of establishing an influenza sentinel surveillance to enable it to determine its endemic levels, thresholds and the detection of circulating and emerging strains.
Hepatitis E
Since its outbreak in December last year, 17 people have already succumbed to hepatitis while 147 cases have been confirmed by a laboratory and there are 1 867 suspected cases.
According to Haufiku the latest outbreak of Hepatitis E occurred in Swakopmund's DRC informal settlement this week.
In the Khomas Region, 116 cases were confirmed, while there were 16 in the Omusati Region with 11 of these linked to Windhoek, 23 in Erongo, two in Oshana, four in Otjozondjupa, two in Ohangwena and Hardap each, and in Oshikoto and //Karas, one case each.
“The main drivers identified for the Windhoek Hepatitis E outbreak include open defecation and poor sanitation and hygiene practices. This calls for behavioural change of affected community members. Epidemiological studies determined the areas within the affected informal settlements with inadequate water and sanitation infrastructure such as communal taps, public toilets and latrines were hardest hit by the outbreak,” he said.
According to Haufiku the ongoing vandalism and theft of implemented water and sanitation infrastructure are also some of the major challenges that are preventing the effective containment of the Hepatitis E outbreak in Windhoek.
JEMIMA BEUKES
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