By Anthony Bugembe

THE first two Ugandans to be confirmed as having the Influenza A (H1NI) virus commonly referred to as swine flu, are expected to be discharged this week.

“They are doing very well and their families have been contained. The symptoms are also disappearing,” said Sam Okware, chairperson of the national Influenza A national taskforce.
The first case is a Ugandan male, residing in the UK.

He arrived into the country on Monday last week from London via Amsterdam.
He developed suspicious symptoms after arrival and was screened and found positive.

Okware added: “The gentleman is currently in isolation at Entebbe Grade B Hospital. His family contacts at Nateete (a Kampala suburb) have also been contained.”

The second person is a Ugandan business woman from Mutundwe, another Kampala suburb.

She too arrived last week from the UK, was screened and confirmed positive by the Uganda Virus Research Institute on Friday. Okware described her condition as very good and said her family has also been contained.

So far, 13 suspected cases of the Influenza A virus have been screened.
Three of these have been confirmed. Okware said all the cases confirmed in Uganda have been imported.

Last week a Ugandan athlete was confirmed to be having Influenza A viral infection in Serbia during the university games.

Uganda’s health ministry suspects the student caught the infection in transit. He travelled on three flights during the journey. The student has been treated and is recovering.

Influenza A is highly infectious and is transmitted through the air as a result of sneezing, coughing or touching contaminated materials or surfaces.

The symptoms of the disease include sudden on-set of fever, sore throat, cough and flu. They occur within three to seven days after contact with an infected person.

It can be prevented by washing hands regularly with soap and plenty of water and always sneezing or coughing into a handkerchief or tissue.

The public is also advised to avoid close contact with people who show influenza-like symptoms. Suspected cases can be reported on 0777793450, 0777793451 and 0777793452.

Influenza A broke out in Mexico in April before spreading to other countries.
Nearly 100,000 laboratory confirmed cases, including about 400 deaths have so far been reported globally.