Swine flu claim first victim in Tanzania

Kama ilivyoandikwa na Sunday Citizen

Swine flu, reported in the country hardly three months ago, has claimed its first victim. The first death has been confirmed in Mbulu district, Manyara region where at least 35 people have tested positive to AH1N1. The district medical officer Dr. Anael Palangyo told Sunday Citizen late yesterday that the victim was one of those who had tested positive to the disease. She has been identified as Ms Elizabeth Passi, a primary school teacher in Mbulu town. She passed away on Thursday at the hospital there. He said the deceased was among several swine flu suspects and those confirmed, who had been admitted at the district hospital. He stated that although several patients were treated and discharged, her situation deteriorated before she died on October 8. ''This could be the first death of confirmed swine flu case in the country'' he said over telephone from Mbulu. Although many countriesin the region have reported cases of swine flu, the death in Tanzania may also be the first known case in East Africa. He could not rule out the possibility of the situation worsening because there are already 167 other people in the area suspected to have been infected with the disease. ''It is true we have 167 on the list of suspects. What we are doing now is to take their blood samples to Dar es Salaam for examination,'' he pointed out. Dr. Pallangyo said the victim was one of those whose blood samples have been examined and proved positive for AH1N1 at the Central Government Laboratories in Dar es Salaam. He added that out of 27 samples whose results were returned to Mbulu medical authorities last Thursday, 20 tested positive for swine flu. Fifteen other people tested positive in other samples examined and received at Mbulu district hospital on September 30th. More samples are being sent for examination. According to him, most of the swine flu patients and suspects were traced in and around Mbulu town and very few from distant villages. He further noted that it had been difficult to differentiate swine flu and other types of fevers, necessitating taking blood samples to Dar es Salaam for examination. ''Swine flu has more or less similar symptoms with other fevers. That is why we have to ensure proper detection through blood screening,'' he said, adding that there was not proper facility to do this elswhere in the country. A total of 170 H1N1 cases had been recorded in the country by September, according to a report by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. Permanent Secretary Ms. Blandina Nyoni said Dar es Salaam Region has recorded the highest number of swine flu cases followed by Manyara and Mara regions. At the end of September, Dar es Salaam had recorded 151 cases, most of them in boarding schools, Manyara 15 and Mara four. According to the report, out of the 170 cases, 80 are Tanzanians and 90 were foreigners. The government warned that the increasing number of swine flu cases was an indication that the disease might spread more if tangible measures were not taken to control it. The first swine flu case in the country was reported last July when a 17-year old British student, among 15 students and teachers who had flown from Britain via Kenya for a volunteer work, tested positive. The disease has also been reported in Kenya and Uganda, prompting the East African Community to issue an alert notice to its member states. To date, 24 countries in Africa have been proved to have the disease with over 8,187 cases and 41 deaths recorded. South Africa is leading with a high number of cases: 7,606 patients and 31 deaths. Globally, H1N1 flu has infected more than 94,000 people, including 429 deaths, according to the World Health Organization. First reported on April 23 this year in Mexico, the human cases of A/H1N1 influenza has so far spread to many nations. In Mbulu, The first swine flu case was confirmed on September 22 but it was only until three days ago that the first death was reported. As is the case in other regions, medical officers in Mbulu have linked the oubreak of the disease to students returning to the area from vacation. ''I cannot say how swine flu was spread there. Most of us guess they could have been brought in by students returning from vacation in Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mwanza and other places,'' he said. However, the DMO allayed fears that the situation could get out of hand, saying swine flu was not that deadly disease because it can be treated if detected early. Measures being taken by the district authorities is to sensitize the public to report to medical facilities people with symptoms associated with AH1N1. When contacted to comment on the situation, the Manyara regional commissioner Henry Shekiffu confirmed to have heard of the death and the epidemic in Mbulu. In neighbouring Arusha, the regional medical officer Dr. Salash Toure when contacted could not confirm if the disease has been detected in the region which a high number of foreign visitors.