Update on H1N1 in the Western Cape: 14 August 2009

The latest statistics from the National Institute for Communicable Diseases reveal that 430 people in the Western Cape have tested positively for H1N1. Attached is a map of the province that shows the affected areas.

Western Cape Minister for Health, Theuns Botha, advised people who experience flu-like symptoms, to remain in isolation and monitor themselves for 48 hours. "Should symptoms worsen, visit a doctor. A medical practitioner will determine whether you have H1N1 symptoms and whether it is mild or severe, and whether you should undergo testing. Swabs will then be taken from the nose and the mouth and sent to a private laboratory for testing."

The Western Cape Department of Health has sufficient stock of Tami-flu and anti-viral medication.

Both individuals that have died in the Western Cape as a result of H1N1, as confirmed by the National Institute of Communicable Diseases, had pneumonia. What is the connection?

When neglected, flu will develop into severe respiratory problems, such as pneumonia, which can lead to cardiac arrest.

Following several enquiries relating to HIV positive people and Aids patients, some brief comments:

The reason why HIV/Aids sufferers have been identified in the risk group, is because they fall in the category with compromised immunity. However, in the Western Cape to date there have been no reports of patients from our ARV centres or general HIV service centres on people that have tested positively for H1N1.

HIV / Aids patients should not change existing practice. The Western Cape Department of Health will continue to refer severely ill respiratory cases to secondary or tertiary level hospitals.

For more information, call the Cape Gateway call centre 0860 142 142 and visit www.westerncape.gov.za/eng/pubs/public_info/S/183700

Note to media: The National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) will be issuing weekly updates on confirmed H1N1 cases, and the Western Cape Provincial Government will issue those weekly numbers, together with a map that highlights the infected areas.

Please address questions that relate to individual H1N1 cases to the NICD.

<a href="http://www.westerncape.gov.za/other/2009/8/h1n1_map_14aug09.ppt" data-cke-saved-href="http://www.westerncape.gov.za/other/2009/8/h1n1_map_14aug09.ppt" "target="_blank"">H1N1 map</a> of Western Cape, selected City of Cape Town suburbs and surrounding towns: 14 August 2009<br> </p> <p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p>