| South Africa was put on high alert for a measles outbreak Monday, with a number of cases reported from five provinces since the start of this year. About 49 laboratory-confirmed measles cases have been reported since the beginning of this year, said Joe Maila, spokesperson for the national department of health. The most number of cases were reported from the Northern Cape province, with 18 cases being detected. There was indeed a measles outbreak in South Africa, Maila said, adding, "however, we are doing everything to make sure that we contain it, so that it (does) not spread at the level (where) people start to get worried". "The department of health (is) working tirelessly with the National Institute for Communicable Diseases to contain the virus and ensure that it is not spreading," Maila assured. Measles is a highly contagious viral illness. It is spread by contact with fluids from an infected person's nose, mouth, or throat. Sneezing and coughing can put contaminated bodily fluids into the air. Rash is often the main symptom of the illness. Other symptoms may include bloodshot eyes, cough and fever. | |
| Biohazard name: | Measles Outbreak |
| Biohazard level: | 2/4 Medium |
| Biohazard desc.: | Bacteria and viruses that cause only mild disease to humans, or are difficult to contract via aerosol in a lab setting, such as hepatitis A, B, and C, influenza A, Lyme disease, salmonella, mumps, measles, scrapie, dengue fever, and HIV. "Routine diagnostic work with clinical specimens can be done safely at Biosafety Level 2, using Biosafety Level 2 practices and procedures. Research work (including co-cultivation, virus replication studies, or manipulations involving concentrated virus) can be done in a BSL-2 (P2) facility, using BSL-3 practices and procedures. Virus production activities, including virus concentrations, require a BSL-3 (P3) facility and use of BSL-3 practices and procedures", see Recommended Biosafety Levels for Infectious Agents. |
| Symptoms: | |
| Status: | confirmed |
Showing posts with label Health Matters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Health Matters. Show all posts
Tuesday, 16 December 2014
Biological Hazard in South Africa on Tuesday, 16 December, 2014 at 04:25 (04:25 AM) UTC.
Thursday, 10 July 2014
Swine flu scare at George company
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
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