Last Thursday, the World Health Organization (WHO) increased the level of alert for the H1N1 influenza virus (a.k.a. influenza A or swine flue) to the highest level 6, one month after it was declared level 5. The organization reasons that the virus in several countries can no longer be traced easily from human-to-human transmission and that the spread is inevitable. Yet the WHO also declared that the virus is in the earliest days of a pandemic.
Although no confirmed cases have been identified in Rwanda or in neighboring countries, the ministry of health, together with WHO, has established an emergency preparedness and response plan for a possible outbreak of influenza.
In total 250 medical agents – medical doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians and surveillance officers – have been trained and are deployed in all district and referral hospitals throughout the country.
According to Gamaliel Binamungu, the director general of Rwanda Health Communication Center, there is no reason for panic and people should continue with their day-to-day activities. Yet they are advised to cover mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing, to wash hands thoroughly with soap and water on a regular basis, and to seek medical attention if they develop suspicious symptoms.
A free hotline – numbers 3334 and 3335 – has been set up for people with inquiries.
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