B.V.I. Monday, June 15 – Last week’s confirmation of the first case of Influenza A (H1N1) virus in the Virgin Islands (UK), by the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre, did not surprise local health care professionals.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Irad Potter said the months of increased public messaging and risk communication that began in April were undertaken with the expectation that the virus would eventually reach the Territory. “We would like to be clear that we had no expectation that the Virgin Islands (UK) would have been spared the entry of H1N1 in our community,” he said during a media briefing on Friday, 12 June.
Considering that there are over 70 countries around the world that have been impacted by H1N1, noted Dr. Potter, it would be impractical to presume that the Virgin Islands (UK) would not be similarly affected. In highlighting the need to treat cases, the Chief Medical Officer said it is important to reiterate that it was never the expectation of local health care professionals that H1N1 would not enter the Territory.
“Now that the disease is in the Territory our efforts must be to care for persons who are sick”, Dr. Potter stressed. According to him, the entry of H1N1 into the Virgin Islands (UK) does not diminish the effectiveness of the surveillance initiatives that have been implemented at the different ports of entry throughout the Territory.
The Chief Medical Officer said the efforts at the ports of entry were intended to help health care professionals identify the first case of the virus, which has been done. Dr. Potter noted that there may be other cases in the Territory that are yet to be identified and confirmed.
“We do not know if there only has been one person in the Territory infected. There might be other persons who are infected, but their symptoms may not be so severe to cause them to seek medical attention,” he said. Dr. Potter added that the public education activities will be intensified with a view of reducing the spread of the virus in the Territory.
The Caribbean Epidemiology Centre confirmed the first case on H1N1 in the Virgin Islands (UK) on Wednesday, 10 June. Health professionals at Peebles Hospital confirmed that the patient was successfully treated and has since been released from hospital.
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).
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