Social

Home page

Social

Next wave of swine flu virus to start in October-November

28 July 2009 14:25 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Kamala Guliyeva â€“ APA. â€œExperimental lab of the Republic Anti-Plague Station is completely ready to make analysis in case of A/H1N1 (swine flu) virus threat,â€ deputy director of the station Rakif Abdullayev told APA. He said that 476 suspected samples had been analyzed in the lab since April.
â€œAll of them were tested negative. Symptoms of B flu were found in two. No symptoms of A flu were found,â€ he said.

Abdullayev considers that the related bodies should work more seriously as A/H1N1 was recorded in Georgia, Russia, Turkey, Iran and Kazakhstan.
â€œThe virus has no boundaries. Anyway we are ready,â€ he said.
Abdullayev said there was no need to impose restriction on travel to those countries.
â€œThe people are checked on border checkpoints. As no virus has been found in Azerbaijan, we can not impose such a restriction,â€ he said.

Department chief of Health Ministry Viktor Gasimov told APA that 8 boxes had been prepared for adults in the Scientific Research Pulmonology Institute in connection with swine flu threat. Boxes for children have been prepared for Children Infectious Hospital #7.
â€œIf the disease is recorded, the most serious patients will be taken there. Other clinics and hospitals will also be involved if necessary. A ward has been prepared in the infectious departments of all regional hospitals. They have been supplied with necessary equipment. There are enough reserves in the Innovation and Supply Center of Health Ministry,â€ he said.

Azerbaijan project coordinator of the World Health Organization (WTO) Elkhan Gasimov told APA that A/H1N1 virus was spreading rapidly.
â€œAs it is pandemic, there is no need to record each case, therefore the data from the countries is not complete. As of July 22, WTO recorded over 130,000 cases in the world. 900 of them were deadly. As the virus develops, more exact information arises about it. It has been proved that pregnant women are at risk more. Especially in the last three months of the pregnancy. People with chronic diseases are also inclined to infection. Before, the virus had spread more among the youth. Now the old people are also inclined to it,â€ he said.

Gasimov said two virus cases were identified in Georgia, which is bordering with Azerbaijan. â€œAccording to the last reports, two cases were identified in Iran and Turkey officially confirmed 28 facts. We received information that the number of infected people rose in this country. There is no result of examinations yet. Russia confirmed 18 cases of virus infection. Today it reports about 10 new cases. WTO didnâ€™t confirm it yet. There was one case in Kazakhstan. Some countries recommend ban on travels to the countries where A/H1N1 virus spread. WTO considers that that it will not prevent the virus spread and therefore the travels are not bannedâ€.
WTO spokesman said the Health Ministry took measures jointly with the State Customs Committee, Azerbaijan Railway and Azerbaijan Airlines to prevent spread of virus into Azerbaijan. â€œWTO provided Azerbaijan with necessary drugs for treatment of 10000 people and the Health Ministry didnâ€™t ask us about the additional assistance yetâ€.

Gasimov said it was a first wave of virus spread and the next wave expected in October-November during the spread of seasonal flu infection. â€œA/H1N1 is spreading very rapidly. It is sensitive against the drug treatment. Vaccine production is developed. Canada, Australia and the US are conducting clinical analyses of the vaccines on the people. The vaccine against A/H1N1 is expected to be ready late September and early Octoberâ€.