Health Alert : Swine Flu Epidemic
Background
On Friday 24th April, 2009, health officials in Mexico City, Mexico identified a new strain of Swine flu, which caused illnesses and deaths among its citizens. As at today, Monday 27th April 2009, there are so far 1614 suspected cases and 103 deaths recorded from the Flu in Mexico. However, only 22 cases had been clinically confirmed by laboratory tests as directly resulting from the swine flu.
The outbreak has also been reported in other countries of the world. In United States, 20 confirmed cases of Swine Flu had been identified in 5 cities (California, Kansas, New York City, Ohio and Texas) but with no fatality. Canada has reported 6 cases while Israel, New Zealand and Spain were investigating unconfirmed cases of Swine Flu.
The majority of cases have occurred in otherwise healthy young adults. Laboratory tests conducted in Canada have shown genetic linkage among the viruses identified in United States and Mexico, which might be indicative of an emerging pandemic. The virus has been described as a new subtype of A/H1N1 not previously detected in swine or humans.
Present Situation in Nigeria
So far, no suspected case of the Flu has been reported in Nigeria but the Federal Government is fully prepared to contain any outbreak of Swine Flu in the country.
Measures already put in place are:
We have strengthened surveillance at all ports of entry into the country – airports, seaports and all land borders. We have our surveillance officers present and fully ready in all Local Government Areas, States and at the Federal level.
We have in stock adequate quantities of Tamiflu, the drug of choice for treatment and we wish to by this inform all clinicians and health workers to report any suspected case of Swine flu to the Epidemiology Division, Department of Public Health, Federal Ministry of Health.
Contact persons:
Dr. J.Y. Jiya - 08034030212
Dr. A. Nasidi – 08037006349
Dr. Henry Akpan – 08037626718
Mr. John Kehinde - 08023210923
Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin
Honorable Minister of Health
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