Swine Flu: Rivers Community Sends Sos To Govt

Port Harcourt—After battling for three years for the removal of a piggery from its community and frightened by the spread of swine flu in the world, the Elelenwo community in Rivers State, has called on the state and Federal Government to rescue it from the “impending disaster in the area”.

In a “media alert” made available to Vanguard in Port Harcourt, yesterday the people of the area said the disease may have hit the community because of the “strange cough and catarrh that is being experienced by some people here.”

Signed by the president and vice president of Elelenwo Youths Organisation, Messrs Mike Chukwu and Clement Onwuka, they asked that the governments “make haste to compel the operators of the piggery to relocate the deadly establishment from our community.

“Besides the impending disaster, some community members have had to relocate their residences, while churches and schools have equally packed out of the community because of the nuisance constituted by the location of the piggery.

“Even the ministry of environment and that of health have intervened without success because the owner wields enormous power, influence and is a supposed money bag, hence the delay and slow response to our plight.

“While the rest of the world is taking prompt and decisive action to save the lives of their citizens, the lives of Elelenwo community is equal to that of pigs. This is indeed very sad and while our government is busy joining the world to prevent this deadly disease from entering Nigeria, we are very certain we have been living with it in Elelenwo.

“Nobody knows why there is so much cough and catarrh here because we do not carry out medical tests like the rest of the world, but who indeed is competent to say that we are not already suffering from this flu in this community and indeed the state, because nobody has bothered to hear the cry of this community over this matter”.

The community further stated that “It is our belief as youths of this community that the government is not doing enough and is merely paying lip service to this most urgent matter. It is therefore time to take the matter to the court of public opinion to see if we can get justice fast.

Experts report that Influenza viruses could be directly transmitted from pigs to people. Human infection with flu viruses from pigs are most likely to occur when people are in close proximity to infected pigs, such as in pig barns and livestock exhibits housing pigs.

Researches conducted by medical experts have revealed that like all influenza viruses, swine flu viruses change constantly. Pigs can be infected by avian influenza and human influenza viruses as well as swine influenza viruses.

When influenza viruses from different species infect pigs, the viruses can swap genes and new viruses that are a mix of swine, human and/or avian influenza viruses can emerge.

The symptoms of swine flu in people are expected to be similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal influenza and include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing; some people with swine flu also have reported runny, nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.

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