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Windhoek — Minister of Health and Social Services, Richard Kamwi confirmed this week two...

Windhoek — Minister of Health and Social Services, Richard Kamwi confirmed this week two cases of the Influenza A H1N1 in Namibia.

The first cases involved a 13-year-old learner who had returned from South Africa on 4 July. The boy went to South Africa together with 20 other learners to participate in the Rugby Craven Week Tournament. Five adults accompanied the learners. So far, the ministry has identified and traced everybody who was on the bus and have contacted them for prophylactic treatment.

In the second case, a young woman had returned from Europe on 15 July and after receiving her traveller's health passport at Hosea Kutako airport, she informed the health personnel on duty that she had all the symptoms suggestive of Influenza. She was transported by ambulance to Windhoek Central Hospital where a nasal swab was taken and she was put on treatment and allowed to go home.

"During the past month, it has become clear to my ministry that it would just be a matter of time before Namibia would have its first confirmed H1N1 Influenza case. Last Friday, 17 July, we received confirmation through the Namibia Institute of Pathology that we now have two confirmed H1N1 cases in Namibia - one in Windhoek and one in Rehoboth," Kamwi said.

He said chief medical officers and principal medical officers were trained on H1N1 - using the preparedness and response plan and that brochures and pamphlets for travelers and the general public were printed and disseminated countrywide.

A case management guideline is being printed for distribution to health workers across the public and private institutions. He said 20 000 courses of Tamiflu, masks and personal protective equipment were procured.