BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - NO cases of influenza A (H1N1), commonly known as Swine Flu, have been reported in any of the samples tested by the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC), the regional body reported yesterday (May 5).
The good news was reported by CAREC as the number of cases confirmed globally by the World Health Organisation (WHO) rose significantly in the past week to 1516, with 30 of those being confirmed deaths from the disease.
While all tests so far submitted to CAREC have been returned negative, the centre reported that specimens continue “being received from possible suspected cases”.
According to Caribbean360, specimens have already been sent to CAREC from Barbados, Belize, Grenada and St. Lucia, and some of those countries have quarantined travellers returning from Mexico. The report further states that all quarantined individuals were eventually released after the disease did not manifest.
The confirmed cases globally by the WHO as of today (May 6) are in Mexico (822), the United States (403), Austria (1), Canada (165), China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (1), Colombia (1), Costa Rica (1), Denmark (1), El Salvador (2), France (4), Germany (9), Guatemala (1), Ireland (1), Israel (4), Italy (5), Netherlands (1), New Zealand (6), Portugal (1), Republic of Korea (2), Spain (57), Switzerland (1) and the United Kingdom (27).
Meanwhile in St. Kitts-Nevis, preventative practices have proven effective at stopping the disease from entering the Federation’s borders.
St. Kitts-Nevis Chief Medical Officer Dr. Patrick Martin advised the general public of the Federation to continue covering their coughs and sneezes and washing their hands with soap and water to prevent the spread of any types of influenza.
He also noted that persons who begin to feel ill should stay well nourished, hydrated and rested, and do their best to avoid crowded public areas where they would be apt to be contagious to others.
On another positive note for the Caribbean, the WHO continues to advise against travel restrictions to prevent the spread of Swine Flu globally, as they “would have very little effect on stopping the virus from spreading, but would be highly disruptive to the global community”.
“Historical records of previous influenza pandemics, as well as experience with SARS, have validated this point,” the international body stated.
The WHO also informed that eating well cooked pork products is perfectly safe and would not further the spread of the disease.
