AH1N1 jab by end December

Dulshani GUNAWARDENA

An injection will be available to combat Novel Influenza (A) H1N1 by the end of December. Named Novel AH1N1 2009, this injection will be imported through the World Health Organization(WHO) by the Health Ministry.

Health and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva stated so at a press briefing held yesterday at the Health Ministry.

Two hundred and fifty four AH1N1 cases have been reported so far islandwide with six deaths. Three of the deaths were from the Kandy district with one each from the Anuradhapura, Nuwara Eliya and Matara districts. Three of the victims were pregnant mothers.

The injection will be administered to those in the high risk group. Five categories have been identified, namely pregnant mothers, children under six months, those between six months and twenty four years, over sixty four years, patients of chronic diseases(heart, kidney, talaseemia, high blood pressure etc) and health professionals particularly in emergency treatment.

Medication has been distributed to national hospitals islandwide, while steps to issue them to private hospitals is underway.

Thirty three hospitals have isolation units for suspected patients. The Medical Research Institute (MRI) has been permitted to send testing to the private sector if there is an overload, with all expenses covered by the Government.

Health officials have been advised to treat suspected patients even before confirmation.

All these precautionary steps have led to the death ratio being low in Sri Lanka compared to other countries, with only six deaths reported since its initial discovery in August.

The Minister emphasized that despite the multitude of public awareness programs in action, the general public was lax in combating the disease.

The main and only method of eradication was to keep the suspected person in complete isolation. Novel Influenza carries symptoms of high fever, cough, cold and sore throat, which could be identified with many minor diseases as well. The nearest national hospital or a registered medical practitioner should be contacted immediately.

A suspected patient should be isolated from the public for seven days.

Precautionary steps as the use of a mouth cover when coughing and washing hands regularly is strictly recommended to avoid the spread of the disease.

It was also stated that the Ministry has instructed all medical specialists to refrain leaving the country for seminars and other events for the following two months as their service has become essential in the current situation.