H1N1 flu declared pandemic
(CNS): UPDATE Thursday 11:30am: The World Health Organization (WHO) declared an H1N1 flu pandemic today, Thursday, 11 June. Locally public health officials and the Health Services Authority have reiterated that this does not indicate a major change in the nature of the virus and people needn’t panic. “A pandemic means that there is global sustained human-to-human transmission, and does not in anyway reflect the severity of the disease. Fortunately, to date, the H1N1 remains a mild virus. Today’s WHO announcement will therefore not change our response, as we have already adjusted our strategy to fit the situation,” said HSA Medical Director Dr Greg Hoeksema.
Public Health officials said earlier that person to person local transmission of H1N1 flu, formerly swine flu, has started in the Cayman Islands based on the latest test results and the third confirmed case. Dr Greg Hoeksema, Medical Director of the Health Services Authority, said that HSA’s strategy for dealing with H1N1 will now change from containment to trying to mitigate the spread of the virus by getting people who are sick to stay home.
“We have our first laboratory confirmed case of person-to-person transmission of the H1N1 virus in the Cayman Islands,” said Dr Hoeksema. “As a result, we are now shifting our public health strategy to minimize the spread of the virus within the community as much as possible. We are advising the public that anyone with a fever and a flu-like illness should stay in home isolation until your symptoms have completely resolved. There is no longer a need to report to the hospital or seek medical care unless you are concerned about the severity of your illness.”
The latest confirmed case is another student at First Baptist Christian School, Dr Hoeksema said, adding that it is the only confirmed case of novel H1N1 from the tests which were done at the school as part of the public health investigation last Friday following the first case. Tests of six other samples completed by CAREC have been negative for the novel H1N1 virus. Results on the remaining samples will be available by the weekend.
Dr Hoeksema said the youngster is doing well recovering at home without any medical treatment and emphasized that, with frequency of travel between the Cayman Islands and the United States, it is inevitable that there will be both additional imported cases and more human-to-human transmission in the islands.
"There is no reason for panic. Our main aim now is to contain the spread of this flu virus as much as possible.” Persons with fever and a flu-like illness must stay home from work and sick children must be kept in home isolation to avoid spreading the virus.
Health officials understand the anxiety in the community and the concern among parents in particular about this novel virus but it is important to remember that this new strain is no different from the cases of typical seasonal flu that are seen every year in Cayman. Only those who are seriously ill need to seek medical care. In addition, people who are at increased risk of developing complications of the flu should also visit their doctor. These patients include children under 5 years old, people over 65, those with serious chronic medical problems, people with immune deficiency, and women who are pregnant. All of these groups should be considered for treatment with the antiviral drug, Tamiflu.
A flu hotline has been set up to help patients who would like additional advice on 926-2812.
"Not everyone that has fever and a flu-like illness needs to seek medical care," said Dr Hoeksema. "Persons with uncomplicated illness should stay home.”
He explained that home isolation and self care is best for the majority of people infected with all flu viruses, including H1N1. He recommends that people who have a fever and flu-like symptoms (headache, chills, cough, chest pain, sore throat, muscle aches, diarrhea, vomiting) should remain at home until all symptoms have resolved (typically 4-10 days); take over the counter medication as needed to relieve symptoms, but do not give children under 18 years of age any products containing aspirin; drink lots of fluids (water and other non-alcoholic, non-caffeinated beverages) to avoid becoming dehydrated; and If you have diarrhea or vomiting, it’s a good idea to rest, eat only small amounts of food at a time, and drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. The majority of patients worldwide have recovered from H1N1 flu following these simple recommendations.
The doctor also recommended that, to prevent spreading or catching someone else’s germs, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when sneezing, coughing or blowing your nose. Throw out used tissues in the trash as soon as you can. Always wash your hands after sneezing, blowing your nose, or coughing, or after touching used tissues or handkerchiefs and wash your hands frequently if you are sick.
Dr Anna Matthews, Acting Medical Officer of Health, is also encouraging residents to plan ahead and think about what they would need to have in their house in case someone were to become infected with influenza and need to stay home, such as enough fluids (such as water, juice, soup) available to last for at least 10 days; basic household items to last for at least 10 days and to think of someone you could call upon for help if you became very ill and discuss this with him or her.
Category: Headline News
We all need to stop getting so paranoid and stop passing stories around and spreading gossip. That won’t help us. What will help us is having common sense and watching ourselves and our families.
I was on a bus on Wednesday evening and made the mistake of coughing once or twice, I have asthma, and the cough sometimes happens if I put myself in a different climate, ie. from walking in the heat and humidity to cold a/c that was on the bus. Let me tell you, after about 2 minutes of being stared at I had to get off the bus! The driver then looked like he didn’t want to take my money, no doubt he tossed it right out of the window as I got off……….
People! Please be careful, but don’t be stupid!
Dr. Hoeksema, I understand that the teacher in the 3rd grade class at First Baptist School where the first case was found is confirmed as having Swine flu yesterday. Please confirm.
CNS: The HSA says this is not true and there have been only 3 confirmed cases to date.
To Cayman Bracker:
I need to put you straight. Not only do the HSA ensure that the doctors and nurses are qualified, it takes up to three months to do so. The due didligence is so thorough that the ignorant people such as you might never be able to understand the process.
Something like Swineflu, which has affected most developed countries in the world (and other undeveloped places like Cayman) has is inevitable.
Check yourself into a Miami hospital all you want. The USA is the only country other than Mexico to experience death from this disease.
Swine flu has killed less people than cigarettes this year. And that will NEVER change.
"I just wanted to know why are you Caymanians not taking heed? Do u all think this swine flu is some sort of a joke? Believe me, once you get it, it is a matter of life and death! It’s like Team Cayman said before, and I do agree with him! If you all check into the C.I hospital you might as well pray, unless u want to check in to die! "
This person has an internet connection and web browser, but apparently lacks an ability to read.
Health Warning: everyone who read that post just lost 8 IQ points, and is a little dumber than before they read it.
Stop the blaming, it is done. It was bound to happen & quite frankly, given the amount of air travel we all do, I am surprised it didn’t get here sooner.
What we need to do NOW is react to the situation at hand. Scare tactics are only going to make people stressed, & do you know what stress does? Lowers our immune system meaning we are MORE prone to catching the darn thing!
Eat well, sleep well, keep good hygiene habits. If you are sick then stay home, if your child is sick make them stay home, avoid crowds. Most of all people, try relax, a nation is only as strong as its people remember?
We know the score, we have heard the drill many times now, may each & every one of you stay healthy & as a result – Happy.
Def Leppard pulled your leg and it came off in his hand.
Def Leppard….YOU ARE A REALLY SILLY person! Don’t let your small mind turn this into a Grand Cayman vs. Cayman Brac thing! OK!!! Everyone is entitled to their opinion…..even you….but don’t act so silly ok. Everyone is worried now! I’m worried! If you have kids….which it would appear by your silly comment that you don’t…then worry about you kids, your family, your friends. Don’t turn this into a Grand Cayman vs. Cayman Brac thing ok! The parent that sent that sick child to school was extremely irresponsible! EXTREMELY! But it’s done now and we are all going to suffer because of one person’s irresponsible act! To me that’s the issue here! My child is asthmatic so I extremely worried at this point, but all I can do it monitor the situation and to the best I can for my child and myself and seek medical attention when I think it’s time to do that….
Cayman Bracker, as I see it there is now only one option, seal off the Brac with immediate effect. All flights in and out must immediately be cancelled, ships must be turned away from the dock and everyone must take to the caves with urgency.
Quick update from over here in GCM, the Island is at a complete standstill, the hardware stores have been looted and there is a severe shortage of masks and breathing apparatus. All businesses and schools have been closed and mass hysteria has ensued.
Mark is too busy preparing for his upcoming court battle to be concerned so the general public has been left to fend for themselves. Some have taken shelter in the new Government Admin building and the Clifton Hunter and John Grey building sites as they have been constucted to a pandemic proof categorisation. Others are banging to get in.
Please send help in the form of non pork products only, the strong amongst us hope to survive
I just wanted to know why are you Caymanians not taking heed? Do u all think this swine flu is some sort of a joke? Believe me, once you get it, it is a matter of life and death! It’s like Team Cayman said before, and I do agree with him! If you all check into the C.I hospital you might as well pray, unless u want to check in to die!
I heard so many rumors before, that they will tell you one thing and then mean the next! I rather be like Team Cayman and check myself into a Miami hospital first!
Mark Scottland, let me say something to you! Do your damn job as a health officer, and try to straighten up that darn hospital down there! Actually do an investigation of how many deaths has occur there over the years! With the lack of knowledge from the Doctors and Nurses at the hospital dept! How are we sure they are all qualified? Do we run a check on each of their back grounds? It’s a crying shame we as Caymanians know these things and you all are not speaking up or doing anything about it!
I remember years ago, my good old friend and I was at the George Town hospital! She had chest pains, she look at me and said….I told my daughters I wanted to go to Miami, you know they are going to kill me here, I wont see you again my poor friend, come give me a hug and say goodbye…….
Those were her last words……So Mark do your job!!!
WHO declares Swine Flu as Pandemic. Now we are being advised don’t bother going to the hospital to be tested. How come all over the world people are still being tested so they can ascertain how bad it is.
This parent that sent their child back to school after the child complained of being sick, came back from New York which is a highly contaminated area of Swine Flu and was being tested. How irresponsible for that parent!!! Who is to say who will get it serious or not. How dare this parent take that chance of sending her child back to school!!! This is why it is going to spread. How many other children have it. How about the children that have younger siblings, elderly relatives?
Yes it is just another flu, but it has to be bad though for the WHO to delcare it PANDEMIC.
Chris-
It’s newsworthy for anybody thinking of visiting this tiny island now, particularly when the Minister of Health has his head up his a–! How about you go up 7M and get sneezed on?
Like one poster suggested this matter needs to be investigated As the parents were apparently told not to send their child to school by the HSA/public health officials and did not comply with this instruction and never notify First Baptist school of the child’s condition. Thereby endangering other children and had to be called to retrireve their child. This is clearly negligent and reckless on their part. Now we see a second child now infected in the same class as a result of their actions.
Why is this topic even news-worthy at all? It has been repeatedly stated that this strain of influenza is no different in it’s manifestation to any other variety, so where is the news value?
It would seem that, simply because of an unnecessary media frenzy, vaste medical resources world-wide have been wasted on a pointless exercise.
CNS: I understand that a patient who tested negative for Influenza A in Cayman, then tested positive for swine flu through test done in Barbados. Guess that means that more people could actually have the H1N1 than suspected, since it is the practice for the hospital not to send testing overseas once the person is thought to be free of the swine flu via local testings.