Swine Flu Kept under Control, Says Chief Infection Specialist

Swine Flu Kept under Control, Says Armenia’s Chief Infection Specialist
15:11 ¢ 14.11.09

People can continue to eat pork, journalists should get their
information from specialists only, and the general public shouldn’t
resort to panic, said Republic of Armenia Chief Infection Specialist
Ara Asoyan at today’s press conference on the A/H1N1 flu virus. In
Asoyan’s words, the swine flu, like any other epidemic, is accompanied
by a state of panic.

`The situation is nearing a state of psychosis. People search for
Tamiflu and masks. I want to state once again, that in the case of
this flu, Tamiflu is prescribed only to the seriously ill,’ the
infection specialist emphasized. As for deaths resulting from swine
flu, which have been recorded abroad, Asoyan stated, in those cases,
the illness was primarily `accompanied by pneumonia.’
It is not necessary to wear medical masks, according to the
specialist, but `if they want to, let them wear it.’

Continuing, Asoyan stated that, in other countries, people wear masks
also in case of an ordinary flu. At the same time, he asked the
population to be attentive to all symptoms of the flu: `If there is
even a slight temperature, a runny nose, don’t go to work, don’t send
children to school and to kindergarten, go to your doctor.’ But that
doesn’t mean that there is an epidemic in Armenia, the specialist
emphasized.

He also stated that the prices for medications and masks are kept
under control. In case of a rise in the cost of medication, the
ministry will invite heads of import companies and will take the
appropriate measures. Besides, if necessary, citizens who have turned
to hospitals may receive all the necessary medication.

According to Asoyan, there are currently 5 suspected A/H1N1 cases. As
announced by the chief infection specialist, `there will be tests,
results, [and] we will announce them.’

`There is an enviornment of work in the infection hospital. If
journalists don’t bother us too much, we can do our work,’ concluded
Asoyan.