No bird flu outbreak in Ohangwena
Rumours of a bird flu outbreak in the Ohangwena region have been nipped in the bud by officials from both the Ministries of Agriculture and Health.
Attempts to clear the air follows mounting panic in the Ohangwena region that bird flu – supposedly from neighbouring Angola – has affected chicken and possibly human beings.
As a result of the allegations on both sides of the border, a number of Angolan nationals have been spotted crossing the Santa Clara border post into Namibia wearing face masks to “prevent a deadly infection”.
“No one wants to take chances. If it’s not swine flu it is bird flu,” said a resident of Oshikango.Deputy Director of Veterinary Services and Animal Disease Control in the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Johnny Shopala has, however, spelled out in no uncertain terms that although there have been recent unconfirmed reports from neighbouring South Arica of bird flu in ostriches, Namibia has not received any reports on bird flu cases.
“There have been no reports of bird flu in animals in Namibia. If it’s in humans, than it is dealt with by the Ministry of Health and Social Services and they should be able to give clarity on that,” said Shopala.
The H5N1 strain of avian influenza, or bird flu, can prove deadly to human beings if the virus combines with human varieties of flu and undergoes a mutation allowing it to jump from human to human.
Although Namibia has been on avian flu alert following an outbreak of the disease in South African in 9 April 2011, no cases have been detected within the Namibian borders.
Acting Ohangwena Health Regional Director, John Hango, said although the region has been dealing with cases of swine flu, also known as H1N1 flu, no bird flu in human cases have yet been reported to his department.
Hango said it was most likely that people mistook the announcement of H1N1 for H5N1, which is bird flu.
“Yes, I can confirm an outbreak of swine flu, but definitely not bird flu,” said Hango.
http://sun.com.na/content/national-news/no-bird-flu-outbreak-in-ohangwena?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
Attempts to clear the air follows mounting panic in the Ohangwena region that bird flu – supposedly from neighbouring Angola – has affected chicken and possibly human beings.
As a result of the allegations on both sides of the border, a number of Angolan nationals have been spotted crossing the Santa Clara border post into Namibia wearing face masks to “prevent a deadly infection”.
“No one wants to take chances. If it’s not swine flu it is bird flu,” said a resident of Oshikango.Deputy Director of Veterinary Services and Animal Disease Control in the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Johnny Shopala has, however, spelled out in no uncertain terms that although there have been recent unconfirmed reports from neighbouring South Arica of bird flu in ostriches, Namibia has not received any reports on bird flu cases.
“There have been no reports of bird flu in animals in Namibia. If it’s in humans, than it is dealt with by the Ministry of Health and Social Services and they should be able to give clarity on that,” said Shopala.
The H5N1 strain of avian influenza, or bird flu, can prove deadly to human beings if the virus combines with human varieties of flu and undergoes a mutation allowing it to jump from human to human.
Although Namibia has been on avian flu alert following an outbreak of the disease in South African in 9 April 2011, no cases have been detected within the Namibian borders.
Acting Ohangwena Health Regional Director, John Hango, said although the region has been dealing with cases of swine flu, also known as H1N1 flu, no bird flu in human cases have yet been reported to his department.
Hango said it was most likely that people mistook the announcement of H1N1 for H5N1, which is bird flu.
“Yes, I can confirm an outbreak of swine flu, but definitely not bird flu,” said Hango.
http://sun.com.na/content/national-news/no-bird-flu-outbreak-in-ohangwena?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
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