Should parents worry about swine flu?

First it was Kisumu, and then Nyamira followed by Nairobi, Nyeri, Molo and Koibatek in quick succession as new cases of the virus H1N1, also known as swine flu, continue to hog headlines this week.

An unfortunate coincidence is that it is confined to schools. Should parents worry? Is the precautionary approach by health authorities likely to fuel an over-reaction considering other reassurances have come from none other than US President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown?

The world’s top laboratories have promised that a vaccine would be available by this month, while President Obama has promised that the vaccine would be made available to all countries that need it.

It has not yet been clarified who would be first in line for a vaccine, but it is likely to be the ones most vulnerable, such as pregnant women and children.

Yesterday, it was Public Health Director Shahnaaz Shariff saying the spread of swine flu was normal and that the strain going around is extremely mild and non-fatal.

The flu, which started in April in Mexico, has already caused more than 2,800 deaths worldwide, according to the World Health Organisation.

But it is hard to tell what would be the proportionate response if your risks were hard or impossible to quantify.

Imminent spread

In 1990 the scare over mad cow disease (BSE) condemned thousands of cattle to death to stop the imminent spread of BSE. Its impact on humans was below 200 deaths.

In 2002, a global panic about Sars — described by some as probably worse than Aids, caused 774 deaths worldwide. The next panic came over Avian or bird flu in 2006 that registered a negligible global death toll.

The WHO has a six-tier pandemic alert and has raised it to level five and officially declared the disease a global pandemic on June 11, as more than 100 countries grapple with a growing number of infections. Some 6, 277,607 cases of swine flu had been reported worldwide as of September. Kenya confirmed its first case on June 29.

Apparently healthy people can die of any flu-related virus if it causes complications such as pneumonia, so these latest deaths should not be cause for concern.

The latest was our northern neighbour, Egypt where the Government has ordered all schools and universities to close until October to slow spread of the flu. The Government ordered the culling of the pig population and restrictions imposed on those wanting to attend the annual Hajj pilgrimage in November. Only those between the ages of 25 and 65 will be granted the necessary visas.

Kenya has so far not reported any death from the flu. But do we have enough Tamiflu drugs that have been so far effective in fighting this virus?

Strict quarantine conditions have been effected as authorities treat the infected students or those exhibiting symptoms similar to those of swine flu.

The public on their part must observe high hygiene standards by covering mouths and noses when coughing or sneezing, not spit anywhere they please and wash hands with soap regularly.

It is important that the cases of the disease that have erupted in schools be treated and contained before the end of the current school term.

This will help avoid a situation where the flu is "exported" by students when they close school.

Members of the public should also volunteer for tests and treatment once they exhibit symptoms of the disease.

The real fear is that the strain could mutate and become more virulent and pose a greater threat like previous flu pandemics. The heightened concern is also because it affects younger people more especially in schools where there is a lot of mixing and infections can quickly spread. This is not unusual.

Our hope is that the Government remains vigilant and gets teams on standby to attend to fresh cases.

 

 

Read all about: H1N1 WHO Tamiflu World Health Organisation

 

 

---