14 confirmed, mild cases of Influenza
among US citizens detected, treated at Bagram Airbase
Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), Afghanistan
July 9, 2009
In the past few days 14 cases of influenza (H1N1)
have been reported from Bagram Air base among US
citizens. All have been properly treated, recovered
and returned to work. The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH)
also sent an investigation team to the area. The team
conducted a rapid assessment of clinics in the area
and could not find any suspected cases.
The MoPH is working closely with the US agencies
and the World Health Organization to monitor the
situation. To date no cases have been detected among
Afghans. The latest reports from WHO indicates that
122 countries have reported 94512 cases with 420
deaths.
MoPH Afghanistan is prepared to detect and treat
influenza and has a nationwide sensitive surveillance
system. The Afghanistan Diseases Early Warning System
has 146 centers all over the country with a capacity
to detect, investigate and respond to any outbreaks.
MoPH laboratories can easily test swabs and specimens
taken from suspected cases of influenza. MoPH is
vigilantly assessing the situation in Afghanistan, the
region and the world and is in touch with different
organizations including the WHO.
From the beginning detection of influenza cases in
the US and Mexico posed a potential threat to the
world and globally the consequences of a pandemic was
studied by the World Health Organization and all
governments. Probability of a global threat from this
pandemic is in a level that according to the media
government of Saudi Arabia has tasked experts from WHO
and other institutions to fore see the implication of
the pandemic phase 6 on the Haj Rituals this year
based on the recommendations of the experts, Saudi
government many take specific measures during Haj or
even the government may take other necessary actions.
A command and control center is in place at the
MoPH Kabul and 3 telephone lines are available to
provide information and guidance.
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