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Following the untimely death of a 22 year old student on 28 July due to Pandemic Influenza H1N1, the Department of Health would like to re-assure the public of the measures that are in place to deal with the outbreak in the country.

As part of its response, the department is working closely with the World Health Organisation (WHO), the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD), the Centres for Disease Control (CDC), civil society, private hospitals and doctors' associations to manage this global pandemic. As of 30 July this year, the pandemic had spread to 159 countries and territories around the world, with a cumulative number of 146 609 confirmed cases and 1 096 confirmed deaths.

The number of globally reported cases underestimates the real number of cases, given that countries are no longer required to test and report individual mild cases. However, if the above statistics are regarded as the status of the pandemic in the world then we can expect about seven deaths per 1 000 people who contract the virus. In South Africa, we confirmed our first case on 18 June 2009 and to date we have more than 600 confirmed cases.

All provinces are affected, but we have localised spread in Gauteng and Western Cape. What this means is that there is limited person to person spread - no international travel is necessary for the infection to be contracted. So far, the vast majority of cases in South Africa have been mild and the unfortunate death of Ruan Muller should not be a cause for panic. Any person with chronic heart or lung diseases, diabetes, HIV and AIDS or who is pregnant are at risk for severe disease and should seek immediate medical attention, especially those in the age group 14 to 30 years, which is where most infections appear to occur.

Learners, students at universities and other institutions of higher should be particularly on alert for the development of symptoms. If they develop mild flu-like symptoms they should stay at home and only return when they better. They should seek medical attention should they develop any danger signs such as weakness, severe drowsiness, difficulty in breathing, shortness of breath, inability to drink fluids and dehydration.

Doctors who see individuals with flu-like symptoms should consider H1N1 as part of the differential diagnosis, even when there is no travel history, and treat moderate and severe cases, or those at high risk, early with anti-viral medication.

The majority of people, who contract flu, including H1N1, will have a mild self-limiting illness. These cases do not need any special treatment, however, where any doubts exist, a doctor or health facility should be consulted.