Swine flu threat alert elevated to Level 4
| DATE: 2009-11-24 | PRINT | SHARE
In addition to raising the threat alert level, the Health Ministry has also advised those who were exhibiting symptoms of the common cold to wear masks and not to go out into public. The Ministry also cautioned against travelling to islands where cases of swine flu had been reported, unless absolutely necessary.
On Monday, three more people were tested positive for Influenza-A in Maldives. The latest reported cases were of a 21-year-old man and a 17-year-old girl in Shaviyani atoll Goidhoo, and a 73-year-old man in Meemu atoll Mulaku.
Out of the 12 people in Maldives who have so far been confirmed for swine flu, six were infected while in Maldives. The Health Ministry said that five people were currently undergoing treatment in quarantine and that their condition was improving.
Speaking to the media, Dr Ahmed Jamsheed, the Senior Medical Officer of the Centre for Community Health and Disease Control (CCHDC), said that the threat level had been elevated to Level 4 after the discovery of swine flu in Raa atoll Inguraidhoo and Meemu atoll.
“The alert level was at Level 3 on Sunday morning but we raised it to Level 4 in the afternoon,” he said. “It means that we’ve been able to confirm that the disease was spreading in more than one island, or that the disease had spread beyond one family, household or one specific location.”
Jamsheed said that the threat alert level would be raised to Level 5 if the disease became extremely widespread across the country. The spread of swine flu had been “controlled” in Inguraidhoo, he added.
Based on observations on how the disease was spreading in other countries of the world, it was likely that the disease would continue to spread gradually in Maldives, he said.
“We expect that cases will be reported from all over the country eventually,” he said.
The Health Ministry further said that they were not sure exactly when the swine flu vaccine would be available in Maldives and that it was highly unlikely it would reach Maldives before February next year. Officials from the Ministry said that they were trying their best to get the vaccines but that they were making preparations for the worst case scenario. Permanent Secretary Dr Sheena Moosa said that the vaccine being distributed by the World Health Organization (WHO) was unlikely to arrive in Maldives before February next year.
The Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) has closed the Hospital to visitors indefinitely from Monday onwards. Dr Ahmed Raazee of the Hospital said that the “always overcrowded” Hospital had shut the door on the hospital’s patient visiting hours (4:00pm to 7:00pm) indefinitely and advised people not to go to the Hospital unless absolutely necessary.
“One of the most effective weapons we use against such diseases is what we call ‘social distancing’,” he said. “We are advising everyone not come to the hospital with someone unless absolutely necessary.”
| DATE: 2009-11-24 | PRINT | SHARE
In addition to raising the threat alert level, the Health Ministry has also advised those who were exhibiting symptoms of the common cold to wear masks and not to go out into public. The Ministry also cautioned against travelling to islands where cases of swine flu had been reported, unless absolutely necessary.
On Monday, three more people were tested positive for Influenza-A in Maldives. The latest reported cases were of a 21-year-old man and a 17-year-old girl in Shaviyani atoll Goidhoo, and a 73-year-old man in Meemu atoll Mulaku.
Out of the 12 people in Maldives who have so far been confirmed for swine flu, six were infected while in Maldives. The Health Ministry said that five people were currently undergoing treatment in quarantine and that their condition was improving.
Speaking to the media, Dr Ahmed Jamsheed, the Senior Medical Officer of the Centre for Community Health and Disease Control (CCHDC), said that the threat level had been elevated to Level 4 after the discovery of swine flu in Raa atoll Inguraidhoo and Meemu atoll.
“The alert level was at Level 3 on Sunday morning but we raised it to Level 4 in the afternoon,” he said. “It means that we’ve been able to confirm that the disease was spreading in more than one island, or that the disease had spread beyond one family, household or one specific location.”
Jamsheed said that the threat alert level would be raised to Level 5 if the disease became extremely widespread across the country. The spread of swine flu had been “controlled” in Inguraidhoo, he added.
Based on observations on how the disease was spreading in other countries of the world, it was likely that the disease would continue to spread gradually in Maldives, he said.
“We expect that cases will be reported from all over the country eventually,” he said.
The Health Ministry further said that they were not sure exactly when the swine flu vaccine would be available in Maldives and that it was highly unlikely it would reach Maldives before February next year. Officials from the Ministry said that they were trying their best to get the vaccines but that they were making preparations for the worst case scenario. Permanent Secretary Dr Sheena Moosa said that the vaccine being distributed by the World Health Organization (WHO) was unlikely to arrive in Maldives before February next year.
The Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) has closed the Hospital to visitors indefinitely from Monday onwards. Dr Ahmed Raazee of the Hospital said that the “always overcrowded” Hospital had shut the door on the hospital’s patient visiting hours (4:00pm to 7:00pm) indefinitely and advised people not to go to the Hospital unless absolutely necessary.
“One of the most effective weapons we use against such diseases is what we call ‘social distancing’,” he said. “We are advising everyone not come to the hospital with someone unless absolutely necessary.”
