World Cup facing swine flu outbreak
Reuters - Monday 15 February 2010, 20:49
CAPE TOWN - South Africa faces a possible
health crisis if a swine flu outbreak strikes during the
World Cup this year, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi told
parliament on Monday.
"One of our biggest nightmares is the fact that 2010 is
going to be held in June when there is a possibility of another
bout of H1N1," Motsoaledi said.
The month-long tournament, hosted in Africa for the first
time, is expected to attract 450,000 tourists during the South
African winter.
Motsoaledi said the department of health had managed to
acquire 1.3 million doses of the H1N1 vaccine and another 3.5
million doses from the World Health Organisation (WHO).
"We received a letter from the World Health Organisation
that they are going to donate to South Africa 3.5 million doses
of H1N1 which will arrive in this country by March," he said,
adding that the WHO donation saved South Africa about 250
million rand ($32.48 million).
The WHO, which declared swine flu a pandemic in June last
year, has been in discussions with South African government
officials on how to reduce the risk of the influenza spreading
at the tournament.
The H1N1 virus has spread globally and killed 15,000 people
since first appearing in early 2009, according to the World
Health Organisation, although the real toll is likely to be much
higher.
Pregnant women and people with health problems such as
diabetes are the most at risk.
"We are going to be vaccinating...starting with pregnant
women, people at entry points, people who are involved in sports
administration," said Motsoaledi. He said vaccinations would
start soon.