7 News Belize

One Dead From Influenza, Four Others Being Treated
posted (January 8, 2014)

One person has died from a severe strain of influenza, and four more persons are being treated for acute respiratory distress at the KHMH. 

Technical personnel from the Health Sector held a major meeting this morning in Belize City to review the cases to see if a pattern of infection is apparent.  They have concluded it is a flu virus, possibly an advanced strain of the influenza that hasn’t appeared in Belize so far. 

No one will know for certain what strain of influenza it is until test results come back from CARPHA in Trinidad on Friday. Those test samples were extracted from the first victim who died at the KHMH over the Christmas holidays from acute respiratory distress.  That victim tested positive for influenza in an influenza rapid test, which is done in Belize.  

Today the Ministry of Health sent out a press release saying that quote, “over the recent weeks there has been a cluster of patients with influenza.”  It adds, quote, “Currently there are a few patients being managed at Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital with severe respiratory infections that we suspect could be H1N1.”

The release adds that currently it’s the flu season and quote, “every person is at risk of catching the flu.” It adds that, flu can be prevented through:
1. Washing your hands frequently with soap and clean water
2. Coughing and sneezing into your sleeve and not your hands
3. Keeping your hands away from your face
4. Keeping common surface areas (such as door knobs, counters) clean and disinfected.

We’ll keep monitoring this story.

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