The South African Medical Association (Sama) called for calm on Friday over the swine flu pandemic.
Sama chairperson Professor Denise White said: ”We call on the public to remain calm and put the disease in perspective. We have a widespread outbreak, but the majority of the cases are mild and self-limiting; severe disease is a rare event.
”General respiratory hygiene measures still prevail as the most important way to reduce the risk of viral transmission.”
She said these include frequent hand washing with soap and water, covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, throwing used tissues in the bin, avoiding overcrowded areas and keeping at least a 2m distance from individuals with respiratory symptoms.
People with an acute respiratory illness should stay home.
There are no quarantines, but people with respiratory symptoms should stay home for seven days and ill children should not do sport.
She said the most important thing was to remain informed and to know the symptoms: a high fever (38 degrees Celsius and over), body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, fast breathing or trouble breathing, sudden dizziness and pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen.
”Children with any form of a lower respiratory tract infection with a fever should be taken to a doctor immediately,” said White.
”Flu remains a disease that affects millions of people across the world each year, and Sama advises the public to use its discretion regarding the consumption of swine flu medication,” White said.
One person is known to have died as a result of the virus in South Africa. — Sapa