Accra, May 1, GNA - Dr. Joseph Amankwa, Director General of the Public Health Sector of the Ghana Health Service(GHS), says the Service is taking measures to ensure that workers at the Kotoka International Airport(KIA), especially those who came directly into contact with in-coming passengers, wore protective masks when dealing with passengers. He said this was necessary as a precautionary measure against infection by the swine flu which has now been found in other countries apart from Mexico where the first cases of the flu were first discovered.

Speaking to representatives from a number of organizations at the KIA in Accra, Dr. Amankwa said although no cases had been recorded in the country so far, it was important that measures were taken against the flu. Dr. Amankwa said the World Health Organization(WHO), had recommended the picking up of people with suspicious cases, especially at entry points such as ports and harbours, adding that, tests would be carried out on such people at the Noguchi Memorial Institute to verify such cases. He said the 37 Military Hospital and the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital were to take care of any such cases if they were to come up in Accra, whilst regional hospitals would cater for such cases if they cropped up within the other regions of besides the capital, Accra.

Dr. Amankwa stressed that, the disease was particularly a threat to the economy since it attacked healthy young adults who basically formed the working population of the nation. Dr. Edward Antwi, Deputy Director of Public Health, GHS, Greater Accra region, said since extreme fear, stress and panic led to the weakening of the human body's immune system, there was the need to educate the public without creating panic and fear. He said measures would be put in place to educate the out-travelling passengers so that they would know what to do in case they experienced symptoms of the disease whilst travelling and also educate them on practices that would help prevent them from getting infected.

Dr. Antwi also advised people, especially those who often came into contact with in-coming travellers to wash their hands as often as possible. "Although you may be wearing a protective mask, you could accidentally rub your fingers against your eyes and if they are contaminated, you could end up getting infected." He said it was however worth noting that, some infected people had recovered without the flu getting severe enough for them to be hospitalized. Dr. Antwi said whilst it was important to put in preventive measures, there was no need at all to create a situation of panic and fear.