South Africa's Measures With Regard to the Swine Influenza Pandemic

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has advised of the outbreak of Swine Influenza (a respiratory disease of pigs but also affecting humans). The recent outbreak has shown that person to person transmission is taking place which is of concern to health authorities.

The National Department of Health together with its partners is the lead institute pertaining to South Africa’s response.

The WHO has indicated that there is no need at this stage for travel restrictions but has cautioned that persons displaying flu-like symptoms should not travel as well as advised that persons returning from affected countries experiencing flu-like symptoms to contact their health care professionals.

The National Department of Health of the Republic of South Africa together with its partners have contingency plans in place to manage the situation. Such plans include, but are not limited to:

• The existence of a National Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Plan for South Africa;
• The existence of a Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Implementation Plan;
• Outbreak response teams are operational in the provinces;
• Training of Provincial Rapid Response Teams on Influenza Pandemic, preparedness and response have been conducted in all provinces;
• Heightened clinical and laboratory surveillance are in place to identify any suspected cases; and
• Assessment of capacity for Epidemic Preparedness Response including Port Health Service in the context of International Health Regulations.

For more information you can visit the website of the National Department of Health at www.doh.gov.za

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