Namibia: 11 More Flu Cases Confirmed.
Eleven more cases of the H1N1 flu - commonly known as 'swine flu' - have been confirmed...
Eleven more cases of the H1N1 flu - commonly known as 'swine flu' - have been confirmed in Namibia, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 34.
The Chairperson of the National Health Emergency Committee, Dr Jack Vries, yesterday told The Namibian that 11 of the latest 12 swabs sent to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) in South Africa returned positive yesterday.
He said three of the confirmed cases are from Grootfontein, two from Windhoek, three from Rehoboth, and one each from Swakopmund, Rundu and Otjiwarongo.
All the patients were swabbed between August 11 and 18. Their ages range from one year to 41; six are male and five female.
Eight regions of the country now have at least one confirmed case of the flu.
In all, 212 suspected cases have been tested so far.
The NHEMC is awaiting 42 more results from the NICD.
Globally, the flu has exceeded 180 000 laboratory confirmed cases, with the actual number of cases expected to be far higher, as countries are no longer required to test and report individual cases. The World Health Organisation has also reported more than 1 800 flu-related deaths.
In South Africa alone, the H1N1 infection rate has increased dramatically, with confirmed cases currently standing at 5 118 since it was first detected there in mid-June. Reports from South Africa indicate 20 flu-related deaths there. Most of them were pregnant women. Nangula Shejavalihttp://www.namibian.com.na