Sunday, October 17, 2010

Mysterious flu bug affects thousands in Zimbabwe

APA-Harare (Zimbabwe) Zimbabwe’s state-run media said Sunday that a deadly flu bug with symptoms similar to those of the H1N1 virus has affected thousands of people in the country’s 10 provinces.
The Sunday Mail said the symptoms of the life-threatening flu bug are runny nose, sneezing, sore throat which may lead to loss of voice, reddening of the eyes, general body ache, loss of appetite and headaches.
A Ministry of Health official told the paper that the bug might be a combination of H1N1 (swine flu) and H3N2 (common cold flu).
“There is a spread of a combination of H1N1 and H3N2 countrywide but cases of common cold flu are usually reported between May and September,” the official said.
She urged all those who show signs and symptoms of cold to seek medication as soon as possible as common cold flu can also be deadly.
The paper also reported that a suspected outbreak of the deadly H1N1 influenza virus has been detected in Tsholotsho district where a total of 300 people — mostly school- children — have been affected.
A previous swine flu outbreak claimed more than 40 lives in 2009 and affected more than 300 people.

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