4 year old tested positive for Influenza A

Friday, November 20th, 2009

ooru300roagaaA 4 year old boy who came into contact with the man, who died of swine flu, has been tested positive for influenza A.

Ministry of Health revealed that they have identified 88 people who came into contact with the 65 year old man who died on Wednesday after contracting swine flu and 8 persons from this who had symptoms of suspected swine flu were tested for Influenza A and only the 4 year old boy was tested positive.

The boy’s samples have now been brought to Male’ for confirmation and till it get confirmed the boy will be treated at Raa Atoll Regional Hospital in Ungoofaaru.

The 65 year old man who died of swine flu is from Raa Inguraidhoo and was taken to Raa Ungoofaaru regional with suspected swine flu symptoms. Ministry of Health says that this man had not travelled abroad at a recent date and neither had come into contact with a person known to have swine flu. The Health Ministry had said that this is an indication that the swine flu was beginning to spread in Maldives but stressed that if the disease is identified at an earlier stage, it can be treated very quickly.
Symptoms include a running nose, cough, persistent fever that goes beyond 3 days, sneezing, shortness of breath or turning blue, chest pain, in children fast or labored breathing, drowsiness and dizziness. Some people even experience stomach pain, vomiting and lose motion as well.
The age group which is most vulnerable to this disease is children under the age of 5 and people above the age of 65. People at higher risk for severe illness of swine flu include pregnant women, those with chronic lung problems, asthma, diabetic and heart patients as well as people with high blood pressure. In this regard, the 65 year old man who died of swine flu was a high blood pressure patient.
Health Ministry cautioned the public about taking proper precautions as a number of people travel abroad as this is the annual school vacation.
The ministry further advised the public to contact National Emergency Operation Center number 3320829 if a person arriving in Maldives from a country where there is an outbreak of swine flu, comes with symptoms such as fever and common cold.

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