H1N1 surfaces in Ho Municipality

Ho, June 11, GNA - Five cases of H1N1 have been confirmed at the Mat er Ecclesiae Basic School Complex at the Sokode-Gborgame in the Ho Municipal ity but authorities of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) say "there is no cause for alarm". Dr Atsu Seake-Kwawu, Ho Municipal Director of the GHS, told the Ghan a News Agency (GNA) on Thursday that the first case was detected on Monday May 31, this year.

He said reported cases at the school's infirmary initially saw a num ber of pupils with cold and fever who were treated for malaria. He said later

some more children were sent to a clinic at Sokode-Gbogame with similar symptoms. Dr Seake-Kwawu said it was at the clinic that a nurse on special dut ies suspected that their conditions showed symptoms of the H1N1. As a result she informed the GHS Municipal Directorate and in collaboration with the Regional Health Directorate, a visit was made to t he school to take samples from the five students to the Noguchi Memorial Institute. Dr Seake-Kwawu said after the confirmation, a total of 20 pupils wit h similar symptoms were sent to the Regional Hospital for observation, treatment and immunization. He added that they were later discharged. He said health staff had been moved to the school to educate teacher s, workers, and those in the community, about the conditions and precautions to take.

He said the challenge was how to deal with the likelihood of the disease affecting parents, who came for their wards on hearing of their sickness, but returned them when the disease was confirmed. Dr Seake-Kwawu said health authorities had taken the addresses of th ose parents and were tracking them for remedial measures to stop a possible spread of the disease. He said staff of the GHS had been trained and were about moving to t he Sokode area in line with the national response strategy to begin educatio n, immunization for priority groups.