Bandar Seri Begawan - The HIN1 flu is a new influenza virus causing illness among people. What is known of it is that it has two genes from flu viruses that normally circulate among swines in Europe and Asia, plus avian genes and human genes. Scientists call this a `quadruple reassortant' virus.

The symptoms of the H1N1 Influenza in humans are similar to those of seasonal influenza and of influenza-like illness in general, namely chills, fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, weakness and general discomfort. The recommended time of isolation is about five days.

The H1N1 flu is contagious. This new virus was first detected in people in Mexico in April 2009, spreading from person to person in the same way that the regular seasonal influenza virus spreads.

While the vast majority of people who have contracted H1N1 have recovered without requiring medical treatment, hospitalisations and deaths have occurred. About 70 per cent of those hospitalised have had one or more medical conditions that placed them in the `high risk' category for serious seasonal flu-related complications. These include pregnancy, diabetes, heart disease, asthma and kidney disease.

HIN1 flu is spread in the same way that seasonal flu spreads - mainly from person to person through coughing/sneezing by infected persons. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something - such as a surface/object - with the flu virus on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

People infected with the seasonal or H1NI flu virus may be able to infect others from day one before getting sick to five to seven days later. This can be longer in some people, especially children or those with weak immune system.

The flu season is not over yet so the flu is still out there. The seasonal flu typically peaks in February and March and influenza activity can occur as late as May. So, increased activity from either seasonal flu, H1N1 or both are still possible this season.

For example, during the 1957-58 pandemic, the flu activity dropped in December and January. Public health officials assumed the worst was over and stopped encouraging people to get vaccinated. Then the flu activity increased abruptly in February and March, resulting in an increase of hospitalisations and deaths.

That is an important lesson learnt and hence it is important to get vaccinated against the flu and be as prepared as possible should the flu activity increase again this season. A report from the Ministry of Health between February 1 and February 8 indicated that the total number of positive cases of the influenza is 233, fluctuating between 39 cases being the highest in a single day and 12 cases being the lowest.

This has shown that the number of H1N1 cases in Brunei is increasing. Though this is not worrying, the public is encouraged to be cautious of their general cleanliness and to avoid visiting hospitals unnecessarily. The Ministry of Health has organised vaccination programmes with the intention of enhancing the community's immunity against H1N1 Influenza A and to reduce the impact and severity should a second wave of influenza pandemic strikes.

The target is to vaccinate 1,000 civil servants and 500 students per day (with parental consent) over the next few months. The vaccination for students is to ensure that pupils are protected from the infectious disease considering they socialise a lot. In the first week of February, 7, 994 individuals were vaccinated at the Vaccination Centre which caters to the public residing in the country (including foreigners).

For the month of February, the centre has extended its services and will be in operation even on Fridays, Sundays as well as public holidays from 2 pin until 8 pm. Brunei has sufficient vaccine for everyone who hasn't been vaccinated. Children aged nine years and younger will need two doses of vaccine about a month apart.

Side effects of the vaccination shots are said to be mild, with symptoms including headaches, sweating, fever, muscle and joint aches, fatigue and shivering. Brunei has set up several vaccination centres set up nationwide including the Ong Sum Ping Health Centre Vaccination Centre, Berakas ‘A' Health Centre in Anggerek Desa, Jubli Perak Health Centre in Sengkurong, Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (RIPAS) Hospital, Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Hj Al-Muhtadee Billah Hospital, Suri Seri Begawan Hospital and Sungai Liang Health Centre in Belait and Pengiran Isteri Hajah Mariam Hospital in Temburong, with an additional one in the Brunei-Muara District being on the first floor of the Indoor Stadium of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Write comment

Name

Email

Title

Comment

smaller | bigger

Write the displayed characters

Add Comment