Not swine flu, but seasonal flu
The health acting permanent secretary, Petronella Masabane, in a statement just released, said that there are currently five confirmed cases of so-called swine flu. However, she added that, "Influenza A H1N1, previously known as 'swine flu' has been reclassified as a seasonal influenza virus. It has been circulating globally in the last decade, all year round, however, cases peak during the winter season."
The first case was confirmed on 22 June in a six-month-old baby boy. Of the remaining cases, there are two males and two females aged up to 45 years and four are confirmed to be from Rehoboth while one is from Windhoek.
Masabane said symptoms include high fever above 38 degrees, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, watery, red eyes, body aches and headaches, fatigue, diarrhoea and nausea and vomiting.
A seasonal flu vaccination is the best possible protection she added, saying washing hands, drinking plenty of fluids and avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth as germs spread that way.
In 2009, there were 102 confirmed cases of the virus in Namibia of which the highest burden was in the Ohangwena, Omusati and //Karas regions.
YANNA SMITH
The first case was confirmed on 22 June in a six-month-old baby boy. Of the remaining cases, there are two males and two females aged up to 45 years and four are confirmed to be from Rehoboth while one is from Windhoek.
Masabane said symptoms include high fever above 38 degrees, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, watery, red eyes, body aches and headaches, fatigue, diarrhoea and nausea and vomiting.
A seasonal flu vaccination is the best possible protection she added, saying washing hands, drinking plenty of fluids and avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth as germs spread that way.
In 2009, there were 102 confirmed cases of the virus in Namibia of which the highest burden was in the Ohangwena, Omusati and //Karas regions.
YANNA SMITH
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Namibian Sun
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