H1N1 Swine Flu is here, warns Fiji Ministry

[Stacey King]

Samantha Rina Fiji Times: Friday, October 15, 2010

H1N1 is now widely circulating in the community with health authorities expecting the virus to affect all divisions.

Health media officer Peni Namotu confirmed 28 H1N1 cases were recorded from August to this month.

"It is also the accumulative number of H1N1 cases so far as of January to October 2010," he said. "Patients presented influenza-like illnesses."

The age group most affected - 20-29yrs - accounts for 46 per cent of the total cases recorded. Mr Namotu said the seasonal flu high risk groups were usually those aged between five and 65 years.

"Surveillance systems are in place for both seasonal and pandemic influenza," he said. "Surveillance via mobile health phones have also been implemented to enhance timely reporting."

Of the reported cases that were sampled, Mr Namotu said they had identified that an equal number lay in the central and western divisions.