The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) confirmed that Johan Hack (42) who died on Wednesday August 5 was infected with swine flu.    Hack is one of three people confirmed to have died of swine flu in South Africa.

Over 238 out of the 1400 schools in the province reported swine flu suspected cases, an increase from last week’€™s 190.

Education MEC, Donald Grant urged principals to take the monitoring mechanism that was recently formulated seriously.  

‘€œNow at least we have a system in place to track the spread of the virus,’€ he said.

He advised parents to keep their children at home if they had any form of flu.

‘€œOur primary focus now is on preventing the spread of infection, by providing guidelines on personal hygiene, by encouraging parents to keep their children at home if they have any form of flu, and by providing advice on home-based care,’€ said Grant.

Social Development MEC, Dr Ivan Meyer said all the facilities under the support of the provincial social development department had been informed on the symptoms and precautions relating swine flu.

The NICD is the only authority responsible for confirming swine flu related tests including those done in private facilities. Tests done in private sector facilities cost R800 while results would have to be confirmed by the NICD and made available after a minimum of five days.

Health MEC, Theuns Botha appealed for people to ‘€œmake use of public sector facilities and not to stay away because of the cost factor.’€

‘€œTests will only be done at hospitals and clinics on people who show moderate to severe flu symptoms, combined with compromised medical conditions,” said Botha.  

Botha said there was a sufficient supply of Tamiflu ‘€“ one of the only antiviral drugs known to treat swine flu in all Western Cape public hospitals and clinics.  

For more information visit www.nicd.ac.za