Influenza-like illness was pretty stable in Palau until around June 21, and then it started going up towards the end of June. The Ministry of Health (MOH) Exposure Prevention Information Network (EpiNet) Team — which provides standardized methods for recording and tracking percutaneous injuries and blood and body fluid contacts — met on July 27 and declared the outbreak of flu in the country.
The Minister said that at this time, Australia is experiencing their winter flu season, and many of their cases have been type AH3. “Flights originating from Australia may have triggered the outbreak,” he said. “They have a flu outbreak now, but it’s not the dangerous kind.”
Countries in South America are also reporting to have AH3 infections at this time, said the MOH report.
According to a report from the MOH, the samples that have come back positive to Influenza A have been typed to H3. “This is a non-pandemic strain and circulates quite commonly. This is just a regular flu and nothing like the H1N1 kind,” Minister Kuartei said.
Influenza-like illnesses were monitored throughout the Micronesian Games, but the Minister said there was no significant increase of the flu outbreak seen during those times.
The flu outbreak peaked starting July 19. On July 26 to 31, the Navy Medical Mission held a clinic at the Cultural Center. According to the minister, the increase of number of people recorded with flu at that time could be due to the fact that those who normally would not seek medical attention have done so at the free clinic. There were approximately 20 cases of flu treated at that clinic over the week.
Kuartei said the flu outbreak started with young people. “But now, more older people are getting sick. And it’s probably because it is a new strain which the old people are not exposed to in the past.”
He added that the flu outbreak will probably begin to dwindle by end of August or by September. “This is normally the behavior of the flu,” he said.
Kuartei advises frequent hand washing to avoid catching the epidemic. If already has the flu, the minister said it should be best to practice proper sneezing – cover nose with a tissue or sneeze on sleeves.
“If you’re really sick, get a regular mask and wear it when you’re around people,” he said. “There’s no medication for this,” he added. “Just rest, drink lots of fluids and eat a balanced diet.”
If feverish, Kuartei said to just take Tylenol. But, he said, many people don’t get fever from the flu. “What they get is a little bit of sniffles and a little bit of sore throat. Just gargle with warm water with salt, or drink tea with honey and lemon.”
But for those with chronic lung diseases, Kuartei advises them to visit the hospital right away.
