H1N1 - three years ago in September of 2009 it created a public panic as the Swine Flu. Since then the hysteria has subsided, but the H1N1 virus lives on. It's been detected in a number of Caribbean Countries in the past month - and Barbados today reported one death from H1N1. Well, it's also been detected in Belize.
Now, health authorities say there's no reason to panic - h1n1 was also detected in Belize last year and there were no deaths. Same for this year - there have been no deaths. We discussed it via phone this evening with the man holding over the office of epidemiology at the Ministry of Health Dr. Marvin Manzanero:...
Marvin Manzanero
"We have had cases of H1N1 last year and we some document already this year. What we haven't had is any mortality or excess morbidity associated to those cases, but we have cases of H1N1 in Belize."
Jules Vasquez
"How many do we have?"
Marvin Manzanero
"I don't have the full figure right now because I know that we are doing checks. When samples are taken countrywide they are sent to Central Medical Lab and we do a correlation of the total amount of samples on a weekly basis."
Jules Vasquez
"What is being done to treat and contain the cases here in Belize?"
Marvin Manzanero
"H1N1 is a sub-type of the Influenza virus; the Influenza is upper respiratory tract infection. Any case that is deemed to be clinically a potential case is screen."
Jules Vasquez
"What should the individual do to make sure he or she is not infected and if he or she does have a flu, what should they do to be on the safe side?"
Marvin Manzanero
"The typical flu signs or symptoms are something that would last - chest and cold, fever is there for 2-3 days. Those people who have consistently high fever, progressive respiratory distress and is not going away with the normal medications that we have - those patients should seek further medical attention."
Jules Vasquez
"Is it contagious? What should I do to make sure I don't get it?"
Marvin Manzanero
"It's the same mechanism as with any upper respiratory tract infection, that is of a viral nature - that's why it is difficult to contain. The measures that we have highlighted 2-3 years ago when H1N1 started with people washing their hands, sneezing; all those elements that you use normally to prevent further infectious cases with the respiratory tract are the ones you need to set in place."
Manzanero told us he would get back to us on numbers. Barbados is reporting four cases and St. Vincent 6.
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