E-Kantipur

KATHMANDU, AUG 12 - Government officials have said that they are keeping the existing health facilities and human resources on high alert along with collection of throat swab samples for lab testing for further investigation into pandemic influenza (AH1N1) virus, better known as swine flu.

With changing season, viral cases have surged especially in the eastern and mid eastern districts — Ilam, Biratnagar, Saptahari, Dhankuta, aside from some parts of Kathmandu Valley, according to Ananda Kumar Shrestha, Coordinator of Avian Influenza Control Programme (AICP), under the Ministry of Health and Population.

“Still, there is no need to panic since viral cases are not severe,” said Shrestha. “Moreover, there is adequate stockpile  of drug and health facilities in case the virus spreads rapidly across the country.”

According to Shrestha, besides the Rapid Response Teams set up in 75 districts, there are 39 specific sites set up specifically for swine flu surveillance where the human resources deployed are ensuring personal hygiene measures such as keeping distance from the crowd, covering the mouth while sneezing, washing hands with soap at least two to three times a day, among others.  

Shrestha said Nepal will receive 2.7 million doses of swine flu vaccine from the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a first shipment this September. The vaccines will be distributed to high risk groups — pregnant women, health workers, those aged over 65 on a priority basis in the beginning and the facility will be extended to others.

According to data provided by AICP, till Wednesday swine flu has claimed three lives. Swine flu has been detected in at least 188 out of the nearly 600 cases tested in the country ever since the first swine flu cases were reported on June 29 last year.

On Oct. 15 last year, the government had declared the spread of swine flu in the country. On Tuesday, the WHO declared the swine flu pandemic officially over after the advice of its top flu expert committee.

The WHO also said that swine flu has now entered a ‘post pandemic’ phase, meaning the disease active around the world has returned to levels usually seen for seasonal influenza.

Posted on: 2010-08-12 08:46

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