First case of H1N1 flu confirmed in Georgia

On July 17 the first case of H1N1 flu, the so-called Swine Flu, in Tbilisi was confirmed. According to reports, about five days ago a female Georgian citizen arrived back in Tbilisi from London via Yerevan infected with the dangerous virus.

The identity of the infected woman is being kept secret in accordance with World Health Organisation guidelines. Everyone who has had contact with the patient has been put under medical observation. The woman is at home receiving proper medical treatment, her condition is satisfactory and her life is not in danger because the virus was identified at an early stage.

“This is the first case of swine flu in the country. The patient is in isolation. The most important thing is that the virus was identified in time,” said Alexandre Kvitashvili, Minister of Health. Kvitashvili affirmed that there is no danger of a swine flu epidemic in the country because its symptoms were diagnosed in time. To prevent the disease spreading it is necessity for people with ordinary flu symptoms to refer themselves to polyclinics, where doctors will advise whether they should be tested for the H1N1 virus. The Ministry of Health says two medications - Tamiflu and Relenza - are used to treat the disease, and there is sufficient supply of these medications in the country. The symptoms of the virus are the same as those of ordinary flu.

“The incubation period of the virus is seven days. There have been cases where people have recovered from the virus without medical treatment. Everything depends on a person’s immune system. The virus passes from person to people through the air, so it does not depend on whether you eat pork or not,” said Kvitashvili.

120,000 people have been infected with swine flu throughout the world and 540 of them have died. There have not yet been any confirmed cases of the virus in Azerbaijan or Armenia, our neighbouring countries.