A seasonal influenza outbreak has been reported in parts of the country, with the Eastern and Central regions experiencing an outbreak of the H1N1 influenza subtype.
3news gathers that the Greater Accra Region is also on high alert, with health authorities closely monitoring the situation as the Region has already confirmed 42 cases of the H3N2 influenza subtype.
The outbreak is caused by the H1N1 and H3N2 subtypes of the Influenza A virus.
These seasonal influenzas occur annually, typically during the cold half of the year, and can spread rapidly in overcrowded areas.
The virus spreads mainly through respiratory droplets when infected persons cough, sneeze, or talk. The Greater Accra Region has confirmed 42 cases of the H3N2 subtype, and health authorities are working to ensure all suspected cases are picked up early.
‘‘I cannot speak for national but we had a meeting yesterday that some regions are having the H1N1. The Central and Eastern Regions. For us in Greater Accra, we haven’t had any outbreak in the school, what we have is about some 42 confirmed cases at our sentinel sites that every week we pick samples of suspected influenza cases and send to Noguchi for confirmation. So out of that Ayawaso East and Okaikoi North reported some confirmed some cases but not H1N1. The cases were for H3N2.’’
The Regional Disease Control Surveillance Officer Madam Christiana Kudornu Achempem has assured that the Regional Health Directorate is ready to handle any outbreak, with all facilities on standby.
‘‘We are ever ready including all our facilities. Even this Monday we distributed some sample containers for them to use to pick samples for Noguchi for investigation. We are also doing health education in the communities because looking at the weather this is the prime time we have a lot of cases,” she confirmed.
Health authorities are urging citizens to take precautions to prevent the spread of the virus.
To protect yourself and your loved ones from the flu, one is advised to practice good hygiene, use hand sanitizers where soap and water are not available, avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of the flu and stay home if unwell.
Source:3news
