Noguchi well-equipped to detect swine flu (Saturday, August 8, 2008)

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THE Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) says it is well equipped to test for the presence or otherwise of the H1N1 virus (swine flu).
It says its equipment is of international standard accepted by the World Health Organisation (WHO), as well as other international organisations.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday, the Director of the institute, Professor Alex Nyarko, said it was the same equipment procured about two to three years ago which was used during the outbreak of avian influenza (bird flu).
Prof. Nyarko said the NMIMR was the country’s central laboratory where samples from other laboratories were sent for confirmation of suspected cases.
Last Thursday, the Ministry of Health confirmed Ghana’s first recorded case of H1N1 (swine flu) in the Greater Accra Region.
Another suspected case, which is still under investigation, was reported at the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital in the Western Region.
The Accra patient, who is a young woman and said to have been infected by a brother who came from the United Kingdom, went to Aviation Hospital at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) with mild symptoms of influenza but further checks detected the presence of the virus.
The woman is on admission and is responding to treatment, while members of her family are under surveillance.
Prof. Nyarko pointed out that the institute was ready to handle tests of that nature, adding that in the case of the H1N1, the Ministry of Health (MoH) was fully supporting it especially in the supply of needed chemicals (reagents).
He said to be sure of the presence of the virus, there should be about two or three separate tests before conclusion could be made.
In a related development, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Elias K. Sory, has said the World Health Organisation (WHO) has supplied the country with drugs which are effective for the treatment of the disease.
In an answer to a question at a press briefing on Thursday, Dr Sory said it was important for people who presented symptoms of the H1N1 influenza to report to health facilities early for correct diagnosis and treatment.
Swine flu is a deadly respiratory disease caused by a strain of the influenza type A virus known as H1N1. The virus is spread from person to person, probably in much the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread.
The symptoms of the H1N1 flu virus in people are similar to the symptoms of flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.
A significant number of people who have been infected with this virus have also reported diarrhoea and vomiting.
The H1N1 viruses are not spread by food. You cannot get infected with HIN1 virus from eating pork or pork products.