GHS dispatches influenza medication to regions

Accra, Aug. 14, GNA - The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has dispatched 50,000 capsules of Tamiflu medication, used to treat pandemic influenza H1N1 to all

regions to manage cases that might occur. In addition, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research has ordered laboratory logistics worth GH¢40,000 to enhance laboratory test of identified

specimens suspected to be influenza H1N1. Dr Kyei Faried, Head of Disease Control and Prevention Department of Ghana Health Service (GHS), said these to Ghana News Agency on Friday Accra. He said personal protective equipment such as a specially made face mask, N95 that could prevent transmission, gloves and aprons had been dispatched to all

health personnel throughout the country for use when handling suspected influenza cases. Dr Faried said regional and district hospitals had also identified isolation wards to receive cases and these had been inspected by regional health directors. "All these are measures we have put in place to contain an outbreak of influenza should it happen," he added. Dr Faried explained that 32 suspected cases of influenza H1N1 had been screened throughout the country out of which two were tested positive but both

patients had been treated and discharged. The other 30 people, who came into contact with the people who tested positive, had their specimen taken to Noguchi for examination and the results tested

negative. Dr Faried noted that the discharged patients were well and did not pose any danger to relatives and the general public. The first case of the pandemic influenza H1N1 was confirmed in Ghana on August 6. The first patient, a young lady who went to a health facility with mild symptoms of influenza, said she had a cold from the brother who came from the United

Kingdom where a sister of the brother had been diagnosed as being infected with H1N1 virus. The brother also tested positive. They were both quarantined under serious surveillance and treated and discharged. Dr Faried said all health facilities, both public and private, were well prepared to receive and manage all cases and that the Aviation Authority would disseminate

influenza messages on all airport televisions and put bigger posters at vantage points to educate the public. He noted that GHS was working with school health coordinators to mount education in schools to detect cases and how to prevent its spread and assured the

general public that they could go ahead and enjoy pork. The pandemic influenza H1N1 is caused by a virus that affects the respiratory system and typically spreads through coughs and sneezes or by touching

contaminated surfaces. The disease, which may present itself like a common cold with cough, sore throat, fever, catarrh, general weakness, body ache and headache and sometimes

vomiting or diarrhoea, may also lead to severe pneumonia with difficulty in breathing, rapid breathing and chest pain. Symptoms can last up to a week and complications of the disease include pneumonia and difficulty in breathing. The disease is highly transmissible, with majority of cases presented as mild diseases, especially in younger people.