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Govt to obtain Tamiflu from WHO:
Novel influenza vaccine at State hospitals
Nadira Gunatilleke
The Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry has made arrangements to obtain
380,000 Novel Influenza (A)H1N1 vaccines from the World Health
Organisation (WHO). The vaccine will arrive in Sri Lanka in December.
Tamiflu, the specific medication which needs to treat patients suffering
from (A)H1N1 is available at all main State hospitals, a Ministry
spokesman said.
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(A)H1N1 |
Take
supportive medication as prescribed e.g. non aspirin drugs for
fever, anti allergic drugs for sneezing and runny nose and
antibiotics for a possible bacterial infection.
Stay away from work/ school and other public places and
crowded settings for either seven days after onset of symptoms,
or until 24 hours after symptoms subside.
Take bed rest.
Take plenty of liquids.
Maintain a good diet.
Avoid close contact with family members and wear a face mask
or a clean handkerchief/cloth over nose and mouth at such
occasions if possible.
Wash hands frequently with soap and water and specially after
touching face.
Cough and sneeze into the elbow or into a handkerchief (this
should either be disposed safely or washed with soap and water
when wet). |
He said the vaccine will be made available for persons infected with
the virus. The persons belong to four risk categories, pregnant mothers,
infants below the age of two, elderly above the age of 65 and persons
suffering from other chronic illnesses. In other countries the vaccine
is not administered to persons suffering from (A)H1N1 but here in Sri
Lanka it will be made available for the patients to avoid complications.
Isolated wards have been made available in 20 sentinel hospitals
countrywide.
According to the spokesman 260 (A)H1N1 patients had been reported
from Sri Lanka so far. The number of related deaths is eight. The
disease is not deadly but the persons in risk groups should take
precautions and extra care to prevent complications. The persons in four
risk categories should seek medical treatment from a qualified doctor if
they develop symptoms.
People with certain chronic medical or immuno suppressive conditions
such as chronic lung (including asthma), cardiovascular (excluding
hypertension), renal, hepatic, hematological (including sickle cell
disease), metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus), immuno
suppression, including that caused by medications or by HIV, those with
disorders that can compromise respiratory function e.g. spinal cord
injuries, seizure disorders and people younger than 19 years who are
receiving long-term aspirin therapy also fall under the risk group.
In adults the symptoms usually include fever, runny nose, sneezing,
sore throat, cough, headache and muscle or joint pains. These symptoms
may last for a few days up to a week. |
