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Greater part of Belarusians will encounter swine flu, expert predicts

The greater part of Belarus’ population will encounter H1N1 (swine) influenza, Alena Fisenka, head of the epidemic prevention department of the Minsk City Hygiene and Epidemiology Center, predicted in an interview with BelaPAN on Monday.

Swine flu has become widespread and Belarus will not remain unaffected by it, Ms. Fisenka said.
This is a new flu virus for which there is little or no immunity in people, she noted.

"Everyone will react to the virus differently," Ms. Fisenka said. "Some will get a minor headache while others will not even notice it. Nevertheless, they will become resistant. But some people, unfortunately, will become ill and develop complications."

This virus and its spread should not be viewed separately from other types of flu and acute respiratory disease, she noted.

At present epidemiologists are not required to record every new case of swine flu, Ms. Fisenka said. "This would be too expensive," she explained. "The detection of even a few cases of H1N1 infection is enough for epidemiologists to conclude that the virus is present in Belarus."

The symptoms of swine flu and seasonal flu and the prevention recommendations are identical, Ms. Fisenka said. People should above all get a seasonal flu vaccine, which, owing to the similarity of the virus strains, will also protect them against swine flu, she said.

Deputy Health Minister Valyantsina Kachan said on November 1 that there were 59 confirmed cases of swine flu in Belarus. There have so far been no fatal cases associated with pandemic H1N1 influenza, she claimed.