Moroccan identifies three new swine flu cases

2009-06-17

The number of swine flu cases in Morocco is up to 5, but health officials say screening measures at airports are working to stop the virus' spread.

By Naoufel Cherkaoui for Magharebia in Rabat – 17/06/09

[Getty Images] Health workers check incoming passengers for flu symptoms at Mohammed V Airport in Casablanca.

Moroccan health officials on Tuesday (June 16th) announced three new cases of H1N1 swine flu, bringing the total in the country to five.

The just-confirmed cases are a woman and her 19-month-old child who travelled from Canada and a 16-year-old girl who flew in from Washington, DC in the US.

The first two patients – an 18-year-old woman and a 29-year-old man – have already left hospital fully recovered, the health ministry said. Both arrived last Wednesday on the same flight from Montreal to Casablanca.

Officials note that detection measures put into place April 30th to prevent the spread of the illness are proving effective. The first patient, a young Moroccan woman studying in Canada, was spotted by a physician monitoring incoming passengers at the Fez airport, even though fever detectors failed to sound an alarm.

The doctor advised her to call him if she should develop symptoms. When the student's condition worsened the following day, the doctor arranged to have her admitted to a hospital in Fez.

Dr. Khad Ayet Al Taleb, head of Al Hassan II Hospital in Fez, said the girl was quickly stabilised and placed on a five-day treatment programme. In addition, her family was also placed under quarantine for 8-10 days.

As Moroccans residing abroad prepare to come home, particularly from countries with documented cases of the virus, health authorities are bracing for the threat of new infections.

"We will co-operate with the Hassan II Foundation for Moroccans Residing Abroad and the Red Crescent to provide the medical conditions appropriate for Moroccans abroad right upon their return, through fever detection via gateways and thermal cameras installed at crossovers," Dr. Nour Ed-Din Shaouki, head of the pandemics division at the Ministry of Health, told Magharebia. "If symptoms are evident, medical diagnosis will be easier."

As for those newly-introduced measures slowing down customs clearance, Shaouki said, "Customs clearance taking place slower is far less hazardous than allowing in the virus. However, we will ensure that customs measures take place as smoothly as possible."

Swine flu is noticeably less severe than the conventional human virus, however. During the lifetime of H1N1 – roughly 2.5 months so far – it has caused just 141 deaths worldwide, where the traditional flu virus kills nearly 500,000 each year.

News of the first case left Moroccans agitated. Fatma, a student in Fez, told Magharebia that she would head straight to the hospital to inquire about precautionary measures to avoid infection.

"I am very alarmed that the number of infections could multiply," said A'isha, a worker from Mohammedia, "especially given the poor medical policy in Morocco".

Mohammad, who lives in Rabat, said that the reported case of swine flu would not dissuade him from travelling to Fez next week.

He believes that the condition is under control.