Luanda – Angola recorded four cases of the H1N1 flu from April to the present, the Minister of Health announced Thursday (July 06).
Sílvia Lutucuta announced this at a press conference adding that the cases were all registered in Luanda province.
The minister said that of the cases detected by the National Institute for Health Research, no patient died, nor were new cases of contacts reported, with the epidemiological and laboratory investigation already being expanded.
She recalled that the influenza A is caused by the H1N1 influenza virus, which affected, in 2009, 20 countries in the Americas, Europe and Asia, while Africa was little affected, and at that time, Angola had registered 12 cases.
In view of this situation, she assured that hospital units are already training technicians, with a view to preventing further infections, with these health institutions carrying out screening of people, using the RTPCR test for the diagnosis of influenza A.
The virus is transmitted from person to person, through droplets released when people talk, cough or sneeze, and the symptoms are similar to seasonal flu, Covid-19 and malaria.
Infected people manifest high fevers, headaches, muscle aches, sore throat, runny nose, cough, and may become complicated with pneumonia, respiratory failure and failure of various organs, with an incubation period of three to 10 days .
She considered it to be a highly contagious viral disease with an epidemic potential, which could have a negative impact on economies, by increasing absenteeism from work and school, and could in some cases evolve into serious forms, particularly for the elderly, with comobility or immunodeficiency.
In view of this situation, Sílvia Lutucuta announced that the Ministry of Health had activated the Contingency Plan for the Prevention of Influenza A, reinforcing epidemiological and laboratory surveillance of suspected cases of influenza in sentinel health units, to monitor the evolution epidemiological situation in the country, as well as guiding the necessary assertive response to prevent its spread.
Therefore, the minister appeals for the population to calm down, recommending that suspected cases take some measures to prevent the spread of the disease, such as using a face mask indoors if you have symptoms, avoiding being in crowds, as well as being very close to people with symptoms.
She also recommended washing hands with soap and water frequently or using gel alcohol, not sharing personal use utensils and going to the nearest health unit if you detect any symptoms of the disease.
With regard to vaccination, the minister said that it is challenging, due to its low effectiveness, but “Prevention is better than cure”, she stressed. ANM/ART/NIC
