BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – ALTHOUGH there are still no confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus (formerly known as swine flu) within the Federation, the Ministry of Health has urged persons to maintain “maximum vigilance” because a second wave of the virus is “very likely”.
At a press conference earlier today, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr. Patrick Martin advised the nation to continue to take necessary preventative steps including good nutrition and regular exercise, adequate rest, covering hands while coughing and sneezing, and washing hands and face frequently.
He disclosed that the Federation had sent a specimen from a suspected case to CAREC, which came back negative. Over the next few weeks, a number of other samples from persons with fever and respiratory symptoms will be sent to the regional testing lab.
According to the CMO, while cases outside of Mexico have mostly been uncomplicated, a second wave is “very likely” due to the upcoming flu season and the probability of H1N1 strains mixing with others to produce a completely new virus.
Martin stressed that an aggressive national response consisting of three fronts is currently being executed - early detection via surveillance systems at the ports of entry and health care facilities, early and effective intervention through case management systems and the communication of relevant scientific knowledge to the general public.
He also revealed that the Tamiflu antiviral medication is available within the Federation for persons who may contract the disease. He however noted that access to the drug should be strictly controlled and monitored by medical doctor prescription only.
“Inappropriate use of the drug could result in the virus developing resistance much faster and the medication will become useless in short order. If there is a second wave of a new influenza and Tamiflu is useless, then we would have lost an effective weapon. The Ministry’s recommendation to medical practitioners is that antiviral medication be reserved for severe cases, meaning the person is isolated in a hospital,” Martin informed.
He pleaded for persons with flu-like symptoms to call their personal doctors for advice and advised them to avoid travelling by plane, ship or bus or venturing in places where people are gathered as in churches, schools, nightclubs and cinemas.
Since last month’s outbreak, there have been 9 835 confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus in 40 countries. Eighty deaths have been recorded, and the current World Health Organisation pandemic alert remains at Phase Five (human-to-human spread in at least two countries) on the six-point scale.
