MUSCAT — Health Ministry authorities yesterday confirmed the discovery of a new case of H1N1 influenza, taking the total number of infections reported to date in the Sultanate to four. A British student arriving in Oman on a social visit last week was found to have contracted the flu, Dr Idris al Abaidani, Acting Director General of the Department of Communicable Disease Surveillance and Control, said. The youngster had arrived in the country on June 30 to visit family members who are expatriate residents here.

He had reported flu-like symptoms which were later confirmed as indicative of H1N1 influenza, the official added. “The patient is responding well to treatment and has been ‘home quarantined’ for a period of seven days. Family members who came into contact with the patient have also been provided with chemo-prophylaxis. As such, this is an imported case, with no secondary transmissions or community outbreaks reported in Oman to date,” Dr Al Abaidani stated. It’s the first time in two weeks that Oman has a new case of pandemic swine flu.

The Sultanate’s first three cases of H1N1 influenza were reported on June 17. All three patients Omani students returning from the United States for their summer vacation have since made a full recovery. The National H1N1 Pandemic Preparedness Committee, meanwhile, is continuing to augment its ability to rapidly detect, isolate and treat new infections before they develop into local outbreaks, the official noted.

By Staff Reporter

© Oman Daily Observer 2009

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