Number of swine flu cases rise to 48

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Pretoria - The number of confirmed cases of the H1N1 flu virus, or swine flu, in South Africa has increased to 48.

While 17 new cases in South Africa were confirmed on Wednesday, Mpumalanga reported its first case of the H1N1 flu virus on Thursday.

A 30-year-old man, living in Mhluzi outside Middelburg, was treated at Middelburg Hospital on Monday for a sore throat and muscle pain.

"Doctors suspected he had symptoms of the H1N1 virus and tests were sent to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases. Unfortunately they came back positive on Wednesday," said spokesperson for the provincial Department of Health and Social Development, Mpho Gabashane on Thursday.

According to the national Heath Department spokesperson, Fidel Hadebe, the 16 new cases which were confirmed on Wednesday were either travellers or associated with the recent university sporting tournament.

They had presented flu-like symptoms at various medical centres and were later confirmed positive for the virus by the National Institute of Communicable Diseases.

"The patients appeared to have mild illness, with no complications so far and were being managed in accordance with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Department of Health guidelines," Mr Hadebe said.

The few swine flu cases reported in South Africa that were hospitalised, such as the 12-year old boy who was the first in the country, have since fully recovered.

All other cases have also fully recovered, except for the 16 new ones confirmed yesterday who are recovering at home, he said.

Mr Hadebe explained that once a total of 100 cases had been confirmed in South Africa, health authorities would stop the individual laboratory confirmation of cases.

"This will no longer be essential for monitoring either the level of or nature of the risk posed by the pandemic virus or to guide implementation of the most appropriate response measures."

The department will thereafter concentrate on surveillance at sentinel sites and laboratory confirmation of moderate or severe cases, in line with the recommendations from the WHO.

Members of the public with a travel history or who has been in contact with a confirmed patient of the flu and who experiences flu-like symptoms such as fever, sore throat, runny nose/nasal congestion, cough or muscle pain within 7 days after arrival or contact with an infected person are advised to seek medical care from the nearest health facility.