Suspected Swine Flu Result Negative

Suspected Swine Flu Result Negative

Medical Authorities at the Honiara National Referral Hospital yesterday said the final result of the country’s first suspected swine flu case was negative.

The patient who was kept in isolation at the hospital for a week was discharged last Saturday.

Chairman of the National Swine Flu Taskforce Doctor Cedric Alependava said the man in his 30’s has developed symptoms similar to the H1N1 virus which causes swine flu after returning from Australian recently.

Dr Alependava also announced that a second suspected person is also awaiting test results from specimen sent over to Australia over the weekend.

The second suspect who is an expatriate was kept in isolation at his home in Honiara.

Meanwhile, Dr Alependava encourages people to maintain hygiene and proper health habits as one of the key measures to avoid any outbreak of the virus.

“The negative result is good news for the country but people must take precautionary measures since the virus is spreading from human to human at an alarming rate around the world,” he said.

The National Taskforce will continue to monitor the situation and remain alert at international entry points in the country, especially at the Honiara International Airport.

ENDS

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