Roadtown, Tortola - Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Social Development Honourable Dancia Penn OBE, QC is reassuring the public that there is no need for panic amid the first confirmed case of Influenza A H1N1 Virus in the Virgin Islands (UK).

In a statement today the Minister said that confirmation of the Territory’s first H1N1 case was received from the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre late last evening. “I also received confirmation that the patient is a 19-year-old male with a history of recent travel from New York, via St. Thomas”, she said.

Honourable Penn confirmed that the patient was successfully treated with Tamiflu at Peebles Hospital and has been released and continues to be monitored by our health care professionals. 

“Activities are underway to trace all recent contacts that this person has had with other members of the public. It is important for me to reassure you that there is no need for panic”, said the Minister.

Honourable Penn assured people in the Territory that a supply of Tamiflu is in stock at the hospital, and that additional supplies are expected to arrive in the Territory within the coming days. “We continue to closely monitor what is happening with the virus around the world, and in a very timely manner a further release will be made in relation to the World Health Organization’s pandemic alert levels,” the Minister added.

The 2009 outbreak is a pandemic of a new strain of influenza A virus subtype H1N1 identified in April 2009. It is thought to be a mutation of four known strains of influenza A virus subtype H1N1: one endemic in humans, one endemic in birds, and two endemic in pigs. Most cases throughout the world have so far been mild relative to seasonal flu.

The Ministry of Health and Social Development aspires to provide leadership that promotes health, social wellbeing, and a safe environment as positive resources for living and sustainable development of the Virgin Islands (UK).