Issued by the National Department of Health
14 October 2005
The Department of Health is working closely with the World Health Organisation and other countries in exploring measures to ensure adequate preparedness and effective response and control of any possible influenza outbreak that may occur as a result of the avian flu occurrences currently affecting some parts of the world.
The Department is monitoring every development around the world and together with the National Institute of Communicable Diseases we are constantly reviewing the country's flu epidemic prevention and management plan.
Through the implementation of this plan, several measures will be put in place to enable the country to respond adequately to any flu outbreak that may occur. In the absence of a vaccine to prevent the spread of the virus, countries around the world have been discussing a variety of options including the stockpiling of Tamiflu drug, said to be the best medicine available today to treat the virus.
Since the drug is not registered in the country, the Medical Control Council (MCC) MCC has made an urgent request to the Ministry of Health to allow the acceleration of the process of registering Tamiflu with the view to procure the drug for use in South Africa. This means that the MCC are requesting an approval to give the drug priority over other medicines awaiting evaluation. Response to this effect is expected in due course.
Avian influenza, or "bird flu", is a contagious disease of animals caused by viruses that normally infect birds and - less commonly - pigs.
WHO says that there is evidence that the H5N1 strain of the bird flu virus - which has been circulating in birds - has a unique capacity to mutate and jump the species barrier causing a disease with high mortality in humans.
The first priority - according to the WHO - is to reduce opportunities for human exposure to the largest reservoir of the virus, viz, infected poultry. This is achieved through the rapid detection of poultry outbreaks and the emergency introduction of control measures, including the destruction of all infected or exposed poultry stock, and the proper disposal of carcasses.
To date no cases of bird flu caused by the H5N1 strain have been reported in South Africa. The recent strain - H5N2, last detected in August 2004 at ostrich farms in the Eastern Cape - has since been successfully contained.
Despite the fact that there is no immediate danger to South Africa, health authorities have intensified detection control measures to prevent any possible human exposure.
This includes strengthening screening services at the country's major points of entry for people and freight from high-risk areas that has been affected by bird flu, particularly Asia.
The Department is also working closely with the Department of Agriculture to monitor developments with regards to the animal influenza outbreaks and remains confident that the situation is under control.
Enquiries: Solly Mabotha: 083 678 9860