H1N1 influenza confirmed in St Lucia
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| Published on Wednesday, July 1, 2009 |
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By Anselma Aimable
Caribbean Net News St Lucia Correspondent
Email: anselma@caribbeannetnews.com
CASTRIES, St Lucia -- St Lucia's Ministry of Health, Wellness, Family Affairs, National Mobilization, Human Services and Gender Relations on Monday at a press conference held at the studios of the Government Information Service released a statement to confirm the first case of the H1N1 Influenza on the island.
On the evening of June 26, 2009, the Ministry of Health was informed by the Caribbean Epidemiology Center (CAREC) based in Trinidad that the first case of H1N1 Influenza had been confirmed in St Lucia. This resulted from a sample sent to CAREC the previous day, after it was noted that the sample was tested positive for Influenza A, on a rapid test performed at the Ezra Long Laboratory at the Victoria Hospital (VH).
The case involved is a 32 year-old female who recently traveled to the United Kingdom. The patient had flu-like symptoms including fever, running nose and sore throat and later developed a mild cough. She then visited her practitioner who took samples for viral tests. The patient was started on Tamiflu as soon as the results of the rapid test was received from VH and that was prior to the confirmatory result from CAREC. Presently the patient is recovering very well.
Close contacts of this index case have been identified through a collaborative effort involving Port Health, Immigration and carrier agents. The Epidemiology department in the Ministry of Health is leading the management of contacts and is working closely with all parties involved. The Ministry of Health has commended the patient and the practitioner involved for their prompt action. | | | | Reads : 842 | | | |
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