THE H1N1 Influenza, commonly referred to as swine flu, continues to spread among Ghanaians and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has raised the red flag about a possible outbreak.
Recent reports indicate that the Central Region is becoming a trouble spot with regard to H1N1 influenza infections, with about 83 cases, Mfantsipim School being the hardest hit.
Now about 480 cases have been recorded nation-wide and given the very infectious nature of the disease, one shudders to think about what may happen if effective measures are not adopted to halt its further spread.
Anybody conversant with flu knows that it is a difficult disease to contain, especially when there is an outbreak.
If Ghanaians are to be concerned about the alert raised by NADMO, then there is the need to aggressively pursue measures that will effectively deal with the H1N1 influenza.
In this regard, education is key and the recognition that children or minors are the most vulnerable group should inform any strategy to avert the further spread of the disease.
Interestingly, experts make reference to simple healthy habits such as the washing of hands, especially after shaking the hands of others, and before touching the eyes, nose or mouth.
While these may be simple measures, they can easily escape one’s thoughts, while many acts, such as nose-picking, sneezing, coughing and rubbing of the eyes, are usually done unconsciously or without premeditation.
The DAILY GRAPHIC, therefore, wishes to advocate more aggressive and effective means of consistently communicating these preventive measures, especially at the workplaces and in schools.
It is unfortunate to note that despite the very infectious nature of the disease, workplace and school-based preventive interventions are virtually non-existent.
Indeed, over the past weeks, many schools have had to be closed down after some of the students were reported to have contracted the disease. However, based on the advice of health experts, the authorities at Mfantsipim have refused to close down the school, despite the reported infections, with the explanation that although some of the students may not be showing symptoms of the disease, they may be harbouring viruses at their incubation stages.
Indeed, there are many people who may have the virus but may not show symptoms because the virus may be at the incubation stage. Such people, although show no symptom, can easily transmit the virus. That is the reason why there is the need to observe simple healthy habits such as covering the nose and mouth when sneezing and coughing.
Health experts have identified some of the symptoms of the H1N1 influenza as fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. In some cases, diarrhoea and vomiting have been reported.
Thus, every Ghanaian has a responsibility to be on the look out for those symptoms and promptly report to the appropriate health centres for screening to avert the spread of the disease.
NADMO has also cautioned the public to minimise crowding at social events, especially those meant for children, and it is hoped that Ghanaians will heed to this advice and not dismiss it as a piece of scare mongering.
So far, the country’s health authorities have been able to manage all reported cases and no death has been recorded.
While commending the health services for the good management of the disease, we wish to urge them not to get complacent but continue to do their best to ensure that all reported cases nation-wide are effectively managed.
The DAILY GRAPHIC urges the government to continue to support the health authorities with the necessary medicines and vaccines to help contain and effectively manage the disease.
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