St Lucia reports first case of H1N1 flu

Saturday, November 21, 2009 5:49 AM

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CMC

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

CASTRIES, St Lucia (CMC) - Health authorities here were yesterday urging the public to remain calm after the country became the latest in the Caribbean Community (Caricom) to report a case of the influenza A (H1N1) virus that has killed more than 300 people worldwide.

The authorities said that an unidentified 32-year-old woman, who recently arrived here from the United Kingdom, had tested positive for the virus.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Josiah Rambally said the woman, who arrived here over the weekend, had since been quarantined and that the authorities were awaiting the results of further tests being conducted by the Trinidad-based Caribbean Epidemiology Centre.

"The 32-year-old has been quarantined and will remain isolated for the next seven to 10 days, while persons who travelled on the same flight as she did were all tested but there was no confirmation of the disease.
We encourage the public to continue observing basic hygiene rules of washing hands and covering coughs," Dr. Rambally said.

Senior Medical Officer Dr Merlin Frederick said it was vital that persons returning from countries where the diseases are prevalent and who have any flu symptoms should seek immediate medical assistance.

"We would like to commend the patient and her practitioner who did the right thing. The patient arrived here and realised that she had flu symptoms: fever, sore throat, running nose, and reported to a doctor who did the right thing by having a test done to rule out H1N1 influenza," Dr Frederick said.

Dr Frederick said that individuals travelling to affected nations like Trinidad and Tobago, the US and the United Kingdom have been put on special alert.

Meanwhile, the Mexican government through its embassy here has donated 1,000 doses of Tamiflu, an antiviral drug which has proven to be effective against the virus.

"This type of influenza is treatable and curable and the provision of the antiviral drug is intended to help St Lucia prevent the transmission and propagation of the influenza virus, which may affect the movement of people and visitors in the island," said the Mexican Ambassador to the Eastern Caribbean, Gerardo Lozano.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said that as at yesterday, there were 70,893 cases worldwide with 331 deaths. The Caribbean has 247 cases with two deaths.

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