|
|
News from Suriname as of
|
Suriname H1N1 flu cases reach 67, with one death
|
| Published on Tuesday, September 8, 2009 | Email To Friend Print Version
|
By Ivan Cairo
Caribbean Net News Suriname Correspondent
Email: ivan@caribbeannetnews.com
PARAMARIBO, Suriname -- Since the first eleven confirmed cases of the A-H1N1 influenza virus, commonly known as swine flu, were reported in June, the number of people in Suriname infected with the disease has reached 67. In an update report the Ministry of Health on Monday noted that from a batch of 50 swabs of patients with flu-like symptoms sent to the Netherlands for testing last week, 25 came back positive resulting in a total of 67 confirmed cases since the outbreak of the virus.
While swabs of suspected cases until last week were being sent for testing to the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (Carec) in Trinidad and Tobago and the Pasteur Institute in neighboring French-Guiana, due to a work overload at these laboratories only six samples could be delivered for testing each time. Therefore the last 50 samples were sent to the Royal Institute for Health and Environment (RIVM) in the Netherlands, which could handle a larger amount, said the Ministry of Health.
The swabs were taken from patients whith flu-like symptoms who sought medical care at their physician, the emergency center at the Academic Hospital and other medical institutions.
"All of the newly confirmed infected cases have already recovered from the disease. So far one patient who was tested positively for A-H1N1 has died from complications linked to the infection," said the health department.
From the 67 confirmed cases, 23 patients were hospitalized, including 12 children and 11 adults. Most of these patients were released from hospital, while up to last Sunday 5 patients were being treated at the intensive care unit of the Academic Hospital.
In parliament several legislators raised concerns regarding the spreading of the infections and measures taken by the government to prevent an epidemic. Minister of Health, Celsius Waterberg, disclosed that the health authorities were monitoring the situation very closely.
In his response to parliament the minister noted that, concerning the provision of the medication Tamiflu, priority is being given to vulnerable groups such as patients with heart or lung diseases, diabetics and people infected with HIV/AIDS.
"There is no reason for panic, but we all have to be vigilant in order to contain the virus,” said the minister. He further noted that the country's health authorities and institutions are "well-prepaired" to handle the situation and contain the disease.
In an attempt to prevent infection of patients and staff, the Academic Hospital is barring all visitors with flu-like symptoms and children to enter the hospital. Visitors are also urged to wear masks on entering the premises of the hospital.
Meanwhile, the government launched a public awareness campaign informing citizens how to conduct themselves in public if they have the flu. Individuals who have contracted any type of flu are also being advised to stay home and ask their physician to make house calls rather for them to visit doctor's offices. Incoming passengers at the international airport are also being screened for flu.
Suriname reported the first eleven cases of swine flu after the national volleyball squad returned from a tournament in Trinidad and Tobago. Sixteen members of the team returned home with flu-like symptoms and subsequent tests in French-Guiana and Trinidad and Tobago returned eleven samples positive for the swine flu virus. | | | | Reads : 1387 | | | |
|
|
More news from Suriname...
|
