The Ministry of Health is on high alert for any respiratory virus with the potential to cause an outbreak and it has intensified surveillance of all acute respiratory illnesses (ARI).
Since the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported recently the occurrence of a new strain of viruses associated with the common cold in the USA, the local health ministry has enhanced surveillance.
In a press statement issued on Thursday, the ministry advised the public to seek medical attention for all febrile illness, especially fever associated with respiratory symptoms (coughing, sneezing, shortness of breath or wheezing); rashes, body muscle or joint pains; headaches, bleeding, yellowness of eyes or with diarrhoea or vomiting.
Other precautionary steps include complying with the health workers’ advice and correctly utilizing medicines prescribed; coughing with a handkerchief or disposable tissue; washing hands as often as possible especially after contact with cough or sneeze droplets (before eating, after using the toilet or cleaning babies, pets or other animals, etc) and avoiding contact with the hands and face when necessary.
