Grippe porcine / Swine flu - Nature biting back at industrial animal production?

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Grippe porcine :
L’Algérie dispose de 16 millions de masques disponibles

Mardi 8 Septembre 2009 -- L’Algérie dispose actuellement d’une «importante quantité» de masques de protection contre la grippe A (H1N1). Le stock de ces accessoires est géré exclusivement par la Pharmacie centrale des hôpitaux (PCH). C’est ce qu’a déclaré au Jeune indépendant, hier, le responsable du poste de commandement opérationnel de lutte contre la grippe porcine au niveau du ministère de la Santé publique et de la Réforme hospitalière, le docteur Boualem Cherchali. Mais, comment un citoyen pourra-t-il accéder alors à cet accessoire vital, à même de se prémunir contre toute éventuelle contamination ? Pour répondre à notre question, M. Cherchali, joint par téléphone, a tenu à souligner qu’»à présent, il n’y a que la PCH qui est habilitée à distribuer les masques de protection contre la grippe A (H1N1)», précisant tout de même qu’une quantité de ces masques a été déjà livrée à certains corps constitués (armée, police, gendarmerie…). Cependant, selon le représentant du ministère de la Santé, le simple citoyen peut s’approvisionner, en cas de nécessité, dans une pharmacie privée qui aura importé ces masques, à condition qu’il passe par la PCH pour récupérer le «code de vente». Reste que cette procédure ne s’annonce guère pour demain, étant donné qu’à présent aucune pharmacie ne dispose de masques de protection contre la grippe porcine. En matière de statistiques, selon des informations recoupées, l’Algérie disposerait actuellement d’un stock de 16 millions de masques de protection et de près de 7 millions de boîtes de Tamiflu, ainsi que de 50 000 boîtes de Saiflu produit par le groupe Saidal pour prévenir et traiter le virus H1N1. L’on parle aussi des 800 000 masques destinés notamment aux médecins et infirmiers.

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Jordan reports six new swine flu cases among students

AMMAN, September 8, 2009 (KUNA) -- The communicable disease swine flu is spreading alarmingly among students in the kingdom with the authorities declaring six new cases among the youth at three schools in the capital Amman. Dr. Adel Al-Balbisi, the director of health care at the ministry of health, said in a statement to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on Tuesday that four of the new cases were students of a school that was shut last week after discovery of the break-out of the infectious disease among the students. The two other students suffering from the disease were from two other schools, he added. The Jordanian authorities have advised schools to close a class with a swine flu case and close the whole school if the disease spread to more than one class. On Monday, the Jordanian authorities declared five new swine flu cases, four of which were discovered at a school where four cases had been reported recently. The number of the swine flu patients in the kingdom has reached 176 since last June. The national medicines authority confirmed in a statement that the kingdom has no stockpiles of the anti-swine flu vaccine.

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Saudi Arabia wants pilgrims to be vaccinated against H1N1 if possible

KUWAIT, September 8, 2009 (KUNA) -- Applicants for pilgrimage visas should attach to their applications certificates of vaccination against seasonal influenza and the H1N1 flu, the national ministry of interior said on Tuesday. The ministry's department of security information said in a statement that pilgrims should present the certificates confirming vaccination against the swine flu, once the vaccine has become available worldwide. The official statement noted that experts have advised that people with chronic diseases, children, the pregnant and the elderly should not travel to the holy sites this year. Small portions of the vaccine against the influenza have become available in some countries. Larger quantities of the vaccine may be available within the coming two months.

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UAE announces two new swine flu fatalities

ABU DHABI, September 8, 2009 (KUNA) -- On Tuesday the UAE Ministry of Health announced two new deaths caused by the H1N1 virus, an elderly UAE man aged 75 and an eight-month old UAE toddler, bringing the death toll to six in the country. According to the Emirates news agency (WAM), the toddler had suffered from heart disease and received treatment in the U.S., while the elderly man had suffered from chronic illnesses. The number of death cases compared to the total number of cases of H1N1 is less than 0.5 per cent, a reassuring percentage proving that preventive and curative measures taken by the MoH and health authorities are sound. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Social Affairs has ordered the closure of nurseries and the deferral of the teaching of people with special needs to centers as preventive measures against H1N1. Mariam Mohammed Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of Social Affairs, said the policies of the ministry put the health of children as a priority to prevent the spread of disease.

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Tunisia takes steps to protect students from swine flu

September 9, 2009 -- Tunisian students will head back to class this year amidst stepped-up measures to prevent outbreaks of the H1N1 (swine flu) virus, according to local press reports and government sources. The health measures come in the context of Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's Thursday (September 3rd) call for "the provision of all human and material requirements and the necessary services to ensure the start of the new school and academic season under the best possible conditions." They also reflect Health Minister Mondher Zenaidi's July 18th announcement that the country recorded 32 cases of H1N1 infection, all of them originating "outside Tunisia". While Zenaidi added that all the patients had been cured "thanks to the caution and care taken by all the medical authorities and the follow-up of the patients and their families", and confirmed that the situation "is not alarming", health ministry officials are hard at work on preventive measures.

For the third year in a row, the Health Ministry's School and University Medicine Department is running a program to provide students with free medical exams. According to local press reports, health screenings will cover 161,462 students during the new school year. The department also will back up health inspections of nurseries and kindergartens, which number more than 3,500 and enrol over 70,000 children. At universities, doctors have been deployed to check students for dangerous or chronic diseases so that their health conditions and academic progress can be tracked. At the other end of the age spectrum, first-year schoolchildren are being subjected to health checks months before they enrol in school. The process runs between January and June, and the would-be pupils are screened for sicknesses and possible developmental disabilities.

The medical exam program is being implemented "to support the campaign for prevention and awareness of the H1N1 virus in school and university settings", TAP quoted department director Dr. Mounira Garbouj as saying on Wednesday. According to Garbouj, the ministry will also organize "workshops on topics such as quitting smoking and [preventing] swine flu; preserving physical health and hygiene; raising awareness of the risks of accidents; and properly using prescription drugs" all year long with the participation of students. In a statement to Magharebia, Dr. Faker Maalej of the Health Ministry said that the steps were "necessary and obligatory because they will protect students from health surprises that may prevent them from continuing their school year under natural conditions". "Let's not forget that prevention is better than cure," added the doctor.

The steps to head off swine flu are having an impact on both parents and educators. "I'm reassured by the continuation of the program, especially since I'm the mother of two students and I'm afraid something bad may happen to them," said Manal Amri. "The swine flu virus is spreading rapidly, and we know that the authorities have banned Tunisians from performing the Omra with the aim of preventing the risks of mingling [with potentially infected pilgrims]. This means that the risks haven't been eliminated yet." For her part, Munira Al Tabib said she wanted the measures to include kindergartens, "which have spread everywhere in the last few years, and where babies, healthy kids and kids with colds mix." Nursery and kindergarten owner Hadiya El Dakhli told Magharebia that health control measures on her facilities are strict, with as many as three surprise inspections per year. "I always try to prevent children infected with contagious diseases from entering the kindergarten," she said. "In addition, I've hired a paediatrician who comes and evaluates the children every month."

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Morocco broadens measures to beat swine flu

September 9, 2009 -- Morocco is launching a vaccination campaign this October to fight the H1N1 (swine flu) virus, as one of several measures to keep the illness in check. A panel of experts has also been assembled to determine who should receive the vaccine and evaluate the extent of the danger posed by confirmed cases. Figures released by the Health Ministry indicate that the number of infections in Morocco is dropping. Seven cases are currently being treated, raising the total number of confirmed cases in Morocco to 136. But concerns remain that a "second wave" of cases could emerge.

Omar El Menzhi, director of epidemiology and disease control at the Health Ministry, said that work is currently under way to identify those sectors of the population that would benefit most from this vaccination programme. Health Minister Yasmina Baddou said at a meeting of the government council on Thursday (September 3rd) that Morocco will work to guarantee all necessary treatment for its citizens. Baddou also said that control and monitoring mechanisms will be strengthened across all health services in order to contain the virus, particularly when welcoming home those who undertook the Omra pilgrimage. The head of the ministry's division for communicable diseases, Abderrahman Ben Mamoun, said the aim of the strategy is first and foremost to gain control of the spread of the disease.

Government officials are striving to limit the risk of contagion in the workplace. In a meeting on Wednesday, the minister for work and vocational training, Jamal Rhmani, said that if the disease becomes a pandemic, economic growth will slow down. "The labour market will be severely impacted," he said. Training sessions will be held for doctors and workplace inspectors to make employers and employees aware of the dangers of the disease and how its spread can be halted. Awareness campaigns will also be run in schools and colleges for teachers, so that they can deal with any cases of contamination. Special attention will be paid to schools in rural areas, which lack the infrastructure to prevent a pandemic. The role of the teacher is the key to raising awareness among pupils and reporting suspected cases, said El Menzhi. "The teacher must detect suspected cases and isolate them. Masks will be issued to schools," he said.

Days before the start of the new school year, parents voiced their apprehension about the possibility of the flu spreading in classrooms. One parent, Najat Bouchaibi, said that officials had calmed the public. But, she added, this was not to say that the population had been completely reassured. "We're particularly worried about our children, who are in one of the most vulnerable categories. Are we really ready to face the pandemic? The question remains unanswered, despite government guarantees," she said. Many Moroccans are speaking in similar terms. Mehdi Batouli, a bank clerk, said that the public is used to the authorities withholding information. He said there were worries about the "real" situation with swine flu in Morocco. "Statements from the World Health Organization are worrying and call for vigilance. I hope there will be vaccinations for everyone," he said.

Jalal Cherkaoui, a doctor, said there is no need for panic, because the Moroccan state as a whole is taking the necessary steps to contain the virus. "The [health] ministry has said that it is the most vulnerable categories who will benefit from the vaccine, particularly children and the elderly, as well as those who are constantly exposed to the risk of contamination," he said. "This is an operation which needs to be undertaken with great thoroughness. And I believe Morocco is ready to face the pandemic."

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Jordan reports 23 new swine flu cases in one week

AMMAN, September 9, 2009 (KUNA) -- Jordanian Minister of Health Nayef Al-Fayez declared on Wednesday that 23 cases of infection with the Influenza A subtype virus (H1N1) have been laboratory confirmed in the kingdom last week. The number brought the national tally to 185 cases since the outbreak of the epidemic in Jordan in June. "Among the new patients, 17 are students," the minister said. He noted that 20 patients were receiving medication in the capital city of Amman and Al-Kark city, some 250 km south of Amman. "The newly lab-confirmed cases concern 20 Jordanian nationals and three Tunisian and Egyptian nationals. "They include 14 males and nine females," he added.