South African health chief: Swine flu likely to hit Africa hard; resources shouldn’t be wasted

South African health chief: Swine flu to hit hard

JOHANNESBURG — South Africa’s health minister says that while swine flu has arrived late to the continent, it may hit harder here than elsewhere in the world.

Aaron Motsoaledi, speaking at a regional conference on the pandemic, said Tuesday that Africa is typically “worst affected” by any communicable disease with its weak health systems and poverty.

Motsoaledi says Africans can learn from countries where swine flu first appeared. He says that means devoting resources to easing the impact, because “containing the virus is not possible.”

South Africa has among the most sophisticated health systems in Africa, making it better able to track the spread of swine flu. Motsoaledi says South Africa has so far seen nearly 600 confirmed cases and two deaths.