Head of the Health Ministry’s special working group for monitoring and controlling the H1N1 flu pandemic Predrag Kon stated today that 204 cases of the H1N1 flu have been officially confirmed in Serbia up until now and it is estimated that the actual number is much higher.

A 50-year-old Cacak native who died in Kragujevac this afternoon has become the fourth victim of swine flue.

In a statement to the Tanjug news agency Kon said that the number of patients ill with symptoms similar to the influenza A H1N1 is increasing and it has been noted that incidences of serious respiratory infection have increased compared to previous years.

He said that Serbia’s epidemiological situation is quite serious, adding that nearly 20,000 people have acute respiratory infections.

Kon said that the overall rate at which the disease is spreading is not so high as to make it necessary to close down kindergartens but if it is deemed necessary in the upcoming period then a ban could be put into place.

Epidemiologists are warning that the symptoms of the H1N1 flu are similar to the symptoms of other types of flu, including high fever, headache, coughing, sneezing, breathing difficulties, muscle aches and pains, skin rash, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and general weakness, and that not all symptoms necessarily appear.

It is important to frequently wash your hands with soap and water, to cover the nose and mouth while coughing or sneezing, not to bring unwashed hands in to contact with eyes, nose or mouth and to avoid staying in enclosed spaces with people who are displaying symptoms of flu.

Employees are advised to stay at home if symptoms appear and to get in touch with their doctors via telephone.

Those who have come in contact with patients must monitor their health condition over a period of seven days from contact and if any symptoms appear they must stay at home and follow doctor’s instructions.

Three cases of new flu have been reported in Kosovo and Metohija, stated today the director of the medical clinic in Gracanica, Rada Trajkovic.

“We received confirmation from the Torlak Institute of Immunology and Virology that three persons are infected with the new flu virus. There is no reason for panic, because the patients from Gracanica, Mitrovica and Gorazdevac are doing well and they no longer have high temperature, cough or body aches,” said Trajkovic.

These are the first cases of swine flu in Kosovo-Metohija.

Serbian Minister of Health Tomica Milosavljevic today stated that inoculation of Serbian citizens against the new flu will begin in mid-December, adding that it will last until all those who wish to be inoculated have received the vaccine.

Speaking at the 3rd International Symposium of the Serbian Surgical Society, Milosavljevic stressed that the vaccine against the new influenza came on the market early in November, recalling that it will be procured under emergency procedure.

On November 9 the government will open the bids submitted by pharmaceutical companies and choose the most favourable offer for procuring the vaccine, he said.

The Minister reiterated that the vaccine is the best prevention from the H1N1 influenza, noting that prioritised groups will be inoculated first, such as children, persons with chronic disorders, pregnant women and health and public employees.

Only then will other citizens be able to receive the vaccine, the Minister said, inviting everyone to be inoculated since the potential benefit of the vaccine far outweighs any possible harmful effects.

Any illness affecting the airways is a possible infection with the type A virus, he said, noting that in most patients it is only a mild case of flu that is easily treated.

This is confirmed by the fact that out of 4,400 Vojvodina residents showing symptoms of the new flu only six were hospitalised and only two were detained in hospital, he noted.