JUST WHEN the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and its allied health institutions were working hard to contain the cholera pandemic two other known contagious diseases appear to have reared their heads in the country.

The Pandemic Influenza a (H1N1) 2009 popularly known as Swine Flu and Acute Hemorrhagic Conjunctivitis commonly called “Apollo” have being reported at major hospitals across the country.

Authorities at the Achimota Hospital in Accra have confirmed 15 reports of the H1N1 Influenza from Achimota and its environs.

Speaking to Health Matters in Accra yesterday, Michael Alexander Garr, Diseases Control Officer of the GHS at the Achimota Hospital said officially 11 out of the 15 reported cases came from St John’s Grammar Senior High School with the remaining cases coming from Tesano, Achimota and Alogboshie areas.

He explained that the disease was prevalent at the St. John’s Grammar SHS because of the mode of transmission of the pandemic.

He said “the pandemic Influenza H1N1 2009 is a disease that is caused by a virus that affects the respiratory system. The viruses are mainly spread from one person to another through droplets released during coughing or sneezing.”

He continued that sometimes people may become infected by touching surfaces or holding objects contaminated with the influenza viruses.

Mr. Garr noted that realizing the danger, his outfit in collaboration with the Ga West District Health Management team went to the St. John’s Grammar SHS to educate the students on the causes, symptoms and preventive mechanisms of the virus.

The school has however vacated for the holidays so health officials can have the opportunity to fumigate the school.The health official stated that all the victims have been treated and discharged and have been asked to stay at home for a period of two weeks in order not to spread the disease.

The symptoms of the disease are: high temperature, headache, body pain, fever, difficulty in breathing, vomiting, diarrhea and sore throat among others

In some cases, vomiting and diarrhea and complications of the disease include pneumonia.

Mr. Garr advised that people should regularly wash their hands with soap and water and entreated infected individuals to cover their mouths with a handkerchief or tissue paper when sneezing or coughing.

He also called on individuals who experience any of the symptoms to rush to the nearest health center for free testing and treatment.

On the Apollo pandemic, the Ophthalmological Society of Ghana (OSG) in a statement issued in Accra said reported cases from four clinics in Accra and Tema last month was 390, while Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi reported 81 cases.

The statement jointly signed by Dr Edith Dogbe, President and Dr Imoro Zeba Braimah, General Secretary said 12 cases were reported to Agogo Presbyterian Hospital, 20 cases at Akwatia Government Hospital and a few other verbal reports from various private eye clinics in Bolgatanga and Bawku.Apollo which is a highly contagious viral infection that affects the lining of the eyelids and eyeball, usually affects both eyes but may affect one eye and later spread to the other.

It affects people of all ages particularly those in crowded living conditions (that is in homes, schools, day care centres, work places) and those who engage in poor hand washing practices.its mode of transmission is by contact with the hands, towels, face cloths and other surfaces exposed to secretions that contain the virus.The symptoms of Apollo include sore eyes, a feeling of grittiness or burning, redness, watery discharge, swelling of the eyelids and sensitivity to light.The statement advised against the use of steroid eye drops and advised affected persons to report immediately to an eye care worker for appropriate treatment.It also said affected persons should stay away from non affected persons to prevent spreading of the disease.The statement said frequent hand washing and personal hygiene measures must be adopted whilst avoiding the urge to rub the eyes with unclean hands could prevent the disease.Meanwhile statistics available from the GHS for September 29, 2010 to March 27, 2011 indicates that cholera cases from 10 districts in Greater Accra stands at 4,499 with 36 deaths. this is followed by 573 cases from 12 districts in the Eastern region with 9 deaths; 554 cases with 24 deaths from 7 districts in Central; 8 cases from one district in Upper West with no deaths and 32 cases from a district in Northern region with no deaths.

According to Dr. Joseph Amankwah, Public Health Director of GHS in an interview with Health Matters, between 800 and 900 cases are reported each week. he describes the recent pandemic as a mysterious one.

He further stated that another factor that could be contributing to the situation was that most landlords in Accra have rented out rooms without toilet facilities to tenants. this he noted has contributed to a lot of people defecating in nearby bushes, packaging faeces in black polythene bags and throwing these into gutters among other unhygienic practices.

“This is weird yet the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) doesn’t seem to care!”

The GHS has therefore warned that the prevention and control of cholera require an integrated multi-sectoral approach since the control of most of the risk factors are beyond the health sector.

“The outbreak is not under control and is still spreading rapidly. The possibility of it spreading to other regions and districts is very high,” it noted in a memorandum.

By Esther Awuah

Flu is generally referred to as influenza by scientists and is a highly contagious respiratory infection. Influenza viruses are said to be the group of viruses responsible for this disease in humans. these viruses usually make their entry into the patient’s body through the mouth, nose, or eyes.

The influenza virus generally spreads through the air medium. The virus becomes airborne if a person afflicted with influenza starts to sneeze or cough. The person inhaling the virus therefore gets infected by the airborne virus. Chances of getting infected by this disease also are high if a person touches any infected object and then touches either their nose or mouth. This disease is said to mainly spread in places of public gathering. Buses and schools are a few high risk areas.

Children and older adults are the people who are at most risk of getting infected by this disease. There is a common misjudgment in identifying both flu symptoms and cold symptoms. in order to treat flu, one must be able to differentiate between flu and cold and then employ the various options available.

Chills, cough, muscle aches, extreme tiredness, headaches fever, sore throat, and runny nose are said to be a few common flu symptoms. It is to be noted that runny nose is more common among children than in adults. Children are more likely than adults to suffer from diarrhea and vomiting, which are also considered as symptoms of flu.

People suffering from flu are generally known to develop headaches and fever whereas people with cold rarely don’t. Fatigue and body pains can become severe in a person with flu and is low for people with cold. Extreme exhaustion will be observed in people suffering from flu and not in not in people having cold. a few symptoms of cold such as stuffy nose, sneezing, and sore throat are sometimes displayed in flu too. Chest pain can be severe in a person affected by flu although it is a common symptom in both flu and cold.

In order to treat the flu, it’s symptoms must be identified at the earliest as it can be cured with 24-48 hours after the person has been contracted it.

Victor loves to research about various diseases and to write articles on them and creating awareness through them. in this article, he has written about Flu Symptoms.

Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department influenza surveillance indicates that over the past week there has been an increase of influenza-like illness in the community. Since flu can continue to circulate through March and April, it’s not too late to protect yourself and your family from the flu. The CDC recommends annual flu vaccine for everyone age 6 months and older to reduce their risk of getting the flu. The 2010-2011 flu vaccine will protect against 2009 H1N1, and two other influenza viruses (an H3N2 virus and an influenza B virus). it takes about two weeks after the vaccination for protective antibodies to develop. Because immunity wanes over time and circulating flu strains may change, annual vaccination is necessary to prevent the flu.  Influenza is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by a virus that can be spread from person to person through coughing or sneezing. Flu symptoms typically include: fever, cough, sore throat, headache, chills, muscle aches, and extreme tiredness.

Persons sick with the flu should stay home; wash their hands frequently; cover their noses or mouths when coughing or sneezing; and drink plenty of fluids. They also can contact their doctor, who may prescribe antiviral drugs that can help reduce the time it takes for symptoms to improve.  For most people, the flu lasts only a few days, but some people are at high risk of developing serious complications from seasonal flu. these people and those who live with or care for those at high risk for serious complications are especially urged to be vaccinated. The flu can lead to pneumonia and can be dangerous for people with heart or breathing conditions. Flu vaccine is available at each of our health clinics.

·         third Street Facility-209-8050·         Ooltewah Health Center-238-4269·         Sequoyah Health Center- 842-3031·         Birchwood Health Center-961-0446 The cost of the flu shot or nasal spray vaccine is $30. Pneumonia vaccine is also available for $52. Flu and pneumonia vaccines combined are $67. Any patient who gets a flu or pneumonia vaccine can get a tetanus shot for free. The Health Department accepts Medicare Part B, Blue Advantage, Railroad Medicare, TennCare, cash, or check.

The CDC stated on their website last week that of the type A influenza flu strains they have subtyped this flu season, 52% do not match what is in this year’s batch of flu vaccine. Does one look at this as the glass half full or empty?

In addition, two new studies raise public health concerns about increasing antiviral resistance among certain influenza viruses and their ability to spread. The findings were published in the January 1 issue of The Journal of Infectious Diseases. Influenza viruses are treated with two classes of drugs: M2 blockers (adamantanes) and neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs), including oseltamivir and zanamivir.

While the spread of influenza strains with resistance to one class of drugs has been well documented in recent years, a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), confirms that dual resistance can emerge in several ways and has been on the rise during the past three years. The study revealed that additional antiviral resistance could rapidly develop in a previously single-resistant strain as a result of mutation, drug response, or gene exchange with another virus. Dual resistant viruses increased in number from 0.06 percent (2007-2008) to 1.5 percent (2008-2009) to 28 percent (2009-2010). if circulation of viruses with dual resistance becomes more widespread among any of the predominant circulating influenza A viruses, treatment options will be extremely limited.

The second study examined an outbreak of oseltamivir resistant (OR) pandemic H1N1 infection in a small group of hematological patients. The study is the first to confirm person-to-person transmission of the dually resistant strain. The 2009 pandemic H1N1 virus was inherently resistant to adamantine, but was susceptible to and treated with oseltamivir. however, by October 2009, emergence of OR H1N1 had been documented in rare patients on oseltamivir therapy. eight of the 11 pandemic H1N1 virus infections were resistant to oseltamivir. Immunocompromised patients were more susceptible to the emergence of OR H1N1 virus on treatment and also transmitted the virus to others, despite often having no influenza symptoms or having completed antiviral therapy.

The researchers in both studies agreed that creative, preventive, and therapeutic choices will be required as unpredictable and antiviral-resistant influenza viruses continue to appear.

Bonnie and Steve – this is scary stuff folks. In one year, an H1N1 strain can increase its resistance to a drug over twenty-fold? The same reason a virus can mutate so rapidly is why the WHO and CDC have such trouble choosing what flu strains to add to each year’s batch of flu vaccine. they are always playing catch-up.

Let’s face facts; viruses rule the earth and we are just walking, talking viral and micrrobial vats. as hosts, we must strive to create the healthiest and most harmonious environments for these organisms. we host millions of viruses and bacteria. The microscopic marauders you read about in the press like e. Coli, staph, and clostridium difficile? they all live inside us. 99.99% of the time they act harmoniously. however, there is that .01% of the time where they cause illness. In these instances, outside influences are almost always to blame.

Researchers are now discovering that “nuking the entire area,” be it with antibiotics or other strong gut-eviscerating medication, is not always the best idea. besides the obvious issue, antibiotic resistance, it can take up to four years to recover normal gut ecology after one round of antibiotics (especially if you do not accompany the antibiotics with probiotics).

So how do we make peace with our beloved viruses and bacteria?

• Basic hygiene – not overkill, but to keep them from overpopulating from the outside (entering via mouth, fingers, ears, eyes, nose).
• Eating a wide variety of foods, especially locally grown produce that contains billions of local microbes.
• Doing everything possible to maintain a healthy host (optimal mind and body).
• Probiotics are microrgansims, but beneficial in the sense that they help balance out marauding bacteria.
• Natural antiviral/antimicrobial substances that have harmoniously kept in check viral and bacterial overzealousness for millenia (lauric acid esters from coconut; grapefruit seed extract for example).
• Natural substances (vitamins, minerals, plant extract, spices) that have worked to harmoniously boost the host’s immune system in times of viral or microbial proliferation.
• If these paradigms are not sufficient and the host is continually attacked by its own as well as outside microscopy, then allopathic methods should most definitely be considered.

Avian influenza: Also called fowl plague, avian flu, and bird flu. Ahighly contagious viral disease with up to 100% mortality in domestic fowl.Caused by influenza A virus subtypes H5 and H7. all types of birds aresusceptible to the virus but outbreaks occur most often in chickens and turkeys.The infection may be brought by migratory wild birds which can carry the virusbut show no signs of disease. Humans are only rarely affected.

Type A influenza viruses can infect several animalspecies aside from birds, including pigs, horses, seals and whales. Birds are anespecially important species because all known subtypes of influenza A virusescirculate among wild birds, which are the natural hosts for influenza A viruses.Avian influenza viruses do not usually directly infect humans or circulate among humans.

Influenza A viruses can be divided into subtypes on thebasis of their surface proteins – hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). There are 15 known H subtypes. While all subtypes can be found in birds, only 3 subtypes of HA (H1, H2 and H3) and two subtypes of NA (N1 and N2) are known to have circulated widely in humans.

The symptoms in humans range from typical influenza-like symptoms (with fever, cough, sore throat and muscle aches) to eye infections, pneumonia, acute respiratory distress, viral pneumonia, and other severe and life-threatening complications.

Studies to date suggest that the prescription medications approved for human influenza strains would be effective in preventing avian influenza infection in humans.

All influenza viruses have the potential to change. Itis possible that an avian influenza virus could change so that it could infecthumans and could spread easily from person to person. Because these viruses donot commonly infect humans, there is little or no immune protection against them in the human population. if an avian virus were able to infect people and gain the ability to spread easily from person to person, an influenza pandemic, a global outbreak, could begin.

Past influenza pandemics have led to high levels of illness, death, social disruption and economic loss. There were 3 pandemics in the 20th century; the Spanish flu (1918-19), Asian flu (1957-58), and Hong Kong flu (1968-69). all of them spread worldwide within a year of being detected.

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