…moves being made on necessity of vaccination
The US-based Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention say new avian influenza A (H7N9) virus in humans continue to be reported in China.
Guyana is on the alert for the H1N1 virus that is commonly called Bird Flu. While there are prevention measures still to be implemented, Health Minister Bheri Ramsaran, told media operatives yesterday that Guyana is in a safe position to tackle the issue if detected locally.
The Minister said that so far there are no reported cases of the deadly influenza and a close watch is being kept for flu-like symptoms.
The Minister said, however, that moves are being made to determine the immediate necessity of procuring medicine to tackle the infectious virus.
He said that the country’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Shamdeo Persaud, has been instructed to make the necessary assessments, while consultations are being held with the Pan American Health Organization (PHAO) and other Caribbean health organizations.
Dr. Ramsaran said his Ministry became increasingly agitated by reports that sprung up after the Caribbean was placed on alert. He alluded to the H1N1 related death that occurred in Barbados earlier in the month as well as the number of serious cases reported in Trinidad and Tobago.
The Minister said that Guyana, working in tandem with the PAHO has stepped up its defence in providing the necessary case definition which speaks to what must be done in an event that a Flu case is discovered.
Minister Ramsaran said that the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) has taken the lead in monitoring the situation, and doctors at the institution are on alert for possible symptoms.
Additional focus is being placed at the Accident and Emergency and Pediatrics Departments, the Minister mentioned.
As additional measures of precaution, Dr. Ramsaran said he has been in personal contact with Dr. Robert Lee, Head of the Caribbean Regional Laboratory and officials of the Caribbean Public Health Agency, experts in treating with such situations.
“We are testing for a certain defined set of cases that might present itself; again, this is part of the case definition.”
As it relates to Ports of Entry, Dr Ramsaran said that the relevant agencies manning the gateways to the country are in possession of the case definitions and have been previewed to the ongoing alert.
The Minister boasted, “Incidentally, even before this (Flu alert), we have been collecting and testing samples for the better part of the year, so we were caught in a good position since the GPHC were collecting the samples and sending them overseas, and all we need is to build on that.”
The preparedness, he added, came from previous situations which highlighted certain weaknesses in the health system. “We have a national reference laboratory not opened so long ago; also part of the mechanisms put in place.”
On the issue of food security, Minister Ramsaran said that while this is being monitored by robust agencies, the health authorities are involved in a regular testing and certification process.
He alluded to the fact that a great percentage of Guyana’s food is locally grown and expressed optimism that the Health Ministry will partner with the Agriculture Ministry if the need arises.
In the meantime, Dr. Ramsaran said that strong systems are in place to safeguard food supplies. “But all the same, we must always be looking for little lapses and indiscretions on the part of importers and that is why we stress on continuous training programmes, where more young persons are getting involved as environmental officers.”
Food markets are being checked to clamp down of the sale of food in unhygienic conditions, the Minister advised.
There are already aggressive campaigns to ensure healthy practices are observed as it relates to storage of food.
The Minister emphasized that the potential Flu threat is a public health issue hence, emphasis is being placed on schools.
“We are having strengthened focus in schools and school health clubs.”
One Flu-related death has been recorded in Barbados out of four detected cases, the October 1, 2013 edition of Nationsnews.com reported.
Those were the results from the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in Trinidad, which tested 10 samples sent a week earlier.
Trinidad and Tobago also reported, recently, that serious cases with the symptoms of the N1H1 virus were being detected.
On Monday, a report from Barbados said that the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) had put regional countries on alert for the Avian Influenza A1 (H7N9), also known as bird flu. It has already killed 20 people in China.