Six of the division's workers - out of a team of ten - are recovering from an extremely severe seasonal flu, which their manager believes is "definitely swine flu".
Nadia Ferreira, the media liaison officer for the provincial department of health, said that according to the head of the George Hospital's emergency unit, no reported cases of swine flu have been received.
The manager of the George company, who does not want to be identified, admitted to the George Herald that he was the first to contract the virus.
"My doctor identified the virus as swine flu. I live in Knysna and apparently lots of residents in Knysna recently got this strain of flu," he said. "It's been nine days and I'm still battling with the disease. I'm on my second course of antibiotics. One of my colleagues ended up in hospital, and another had a fever of over 42°C. It's been like a sick-bay."
The manager experienced severe headaches, sore joints, nausea and had a high fewer.
In order to cope with their workload, the manager now has to work as a fitter and turner on top of his normal workload.
According to Ferreira, the so-called swine flu is no longer referred to in separate terms, but included in the term 'seasonal flu'.
The symptoms are the same, just worse than your average flu, she said.
"There is a standard flu vaccine that can be obtained at selected medical facilities," said Ferreira. "Since it is winter season, more people are prone to be infected by flu."
Swine flu is clinically diagnosed, and these tests are not done by departmental facilities.
"It is not necessary to report swine flu as an illness," she said.
To avoid contracting flu, Ferreira gave the following guidelines:
- Wash your hands often and with clean water and soap
- Sneeze or cough in your elbow and not in your hands
- Keep your hands away from your face
- Keep common work areas clean
