A total of eight cases of the pandemic influenza H1N1 (swine flu) have been confirmed in the country, according to an update of the pandemic issued by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) on Friday. It said the first seven cases had been “well managed and discharged”, adding that “the last case is under treatment and doing well”. The GHS said the contacts of the last case were also closely being monitored and that they were cooperating with health staff. It said a total of 82 specimens, comprising 56 suspected cases and 26 contacts, had so far been investigated at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research. The health authorities say the pandemic is still in its early stages of evolution and needs to be monitored closely, while the general public and all stakeholders are being urged to support in the management of the situation. The pandemic influenza H1N1 2009 is caused by a virus that affects the respiratory system and typically spreads through coughs and sneezes or by touching contaminated surfaces. The disease, which may present itself like a common cold with cough, sore throat, fever, catarrh, general weakness, body ache and headache, and sometimes vomiting or diarrhoea, may also lead to severe pneumonia with difficulty in breathing, rapid breathing and chest pain. Symptoms can last up to a week and complications of the disease include pneumonia and difficulty in breathing. The disease is highly transmissible, with majority of cases presented as mild diseases, especially in younger people. As measures to address the situation, the GHS has dispatched 50,000 capsules of Tamiflu medication used to treat pandemic influenza H1N1 to all regions to manage cases that may occur. In addition, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research has ordered laboratory logistics worth GH¢40,000 to enhance laboratory test of identified specimens suspected to be influenza H1N1. Personal protective equipment such as a specially made face mask N95 that could prevent transmission, gloves and aprons have been dispatched to all health personnel throughout the country for use when handling suspected influenza cases. Regional and district hospitals have also earmarked isolation wards to receive cases and these have been inspected by regional health directors. Source: GNA