Maghreb countries get set for swine flu

  1. Posted on Thursday 14 May 2009 - 12:33
    Addou
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    Merieme Addou, AfricaNews reporter in Rabat, Morocco
    The Arab Maghreb Union (UMA) - Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania and Tunisia have declared their countries free of swine flu and called for coordinated action to avoid the virus getting into the sub-region.
    swine
    Morocco has raised the vigilance and alert level against swine flu following the decision by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to raise its pandemic alert level to phase five, even though no case of swine flu has been documented in Morocco so far, the Health Minister said, adding that Morocco also has a considerable medicine reserve and protection masks, and laboratories are constantly mobilized.

    While the Algerian Ministry of Health has decided launching a plan to counter swine flu epidemic by installing three regional treatment centres, as well as acquiring additional quantities drugs destined to respiratory diseases.

    The plan is meant also at equipping main airports and ports by technical devices permitting at detecting people infected by the flu symptoms, In addition, Algeria bought millions of respiratory masks for doctors and border agents.

    Officials also reassured citizens that Algeria has vaccines on hand to protect the population from the flu strain. SAIDAL, the country's largest pharmaceuticals group, reportedly has enough flu antiviral medication to respond to a widespread H1N1 outbreak.

    Meanwhile Tunisia has set up a green number to advice and to provide people with information about swine flu. Boar drives have also been organized in order to prevent against the A/H1N1 virus.

    A number of especially trained doctors are also available to help people and reassure them if a swine flu case is detected According to Tunisian authorities.

    Libya and Mauritanian officials joined as well the other Maghreb nations in adopting preventive measures such as screen travelers entering their territories in addition to stepping up surveillance.

    First discovered in Mexico, where some 100 people are reported killed by the disease, swine flu is now in about 10 countries.

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