3 new suspected H1N1 cases reported

THREE more suspected cases of the H1N1 flu virus, commonly known as ‘swine flu’, have been reported in Namibia.

Dr Jack Vries, Chairperson of the National Health Emergency Management Committee (NHEMC), yesterday confirmed to The Namibian that lab results are being awaited for the three cases, with the first two expected by tomorrow.The lab tests are being conducted at the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) in South Africa, where 18 cases of H1N1 have already been confirmed.Asked where the suspected cases had been reported, Vries responded that one of the three was reported on Friday at the Namibia Institute for Pathology (NIP), the second on Saturday at the Windhoek Central Hospital, and the third on Monday at Okahandja.All three – who are Namibian citizens – have had a recent history of travel: two having just arrived from the United States, and the third having arrived from Europe, where extensive travelling was done.Vries said the lab results for the weekend’s suspected cases are expected by tomorrow, while the results for the third case are expected by the end of this week.NEGATIVEThe new suspected cases bring the total number of swab samples sent for testing to eight, four of which have already drawn negative lab results.Vries also confirmed yesterday that the lab tests conducted on a Russian sailor who arrived in Namibia from Mexico and presented himself to the Welwitschia Hospital last Tuesday with flu-like illness, had returned negative, confirming that three of the four cases tested last week have returned negative.Results of the fourth case – a 13-year-old girl from Tsumeb – are still being awaited.GLOBAL UPDATEAnd while Namibia has not had a confirmed case of H1N1 as yet, the global threat remains ever-present, with the numbers of confirmed cases and deaths increasing on a daily basis.By yesterday, the H1N1 update of the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported 94 512 confirmed cases globally, and 429 deaths resulting from H1N1 flu.Closer to home on the African continent, the WHO update reported 147 confirmed cases, half of which were reported in Egypt, and 18 in South Africa. There have been no reported deaths as a result of H1N1 on the continent.nangula@namibian.com.na