– Ramsammy

Minister of Health Dr. Leslie Ramsammy told media operatives at a press conference yesterday that Guyana is not at immediate threat for swine flu.

The minister said there have been concerns over the past few days about swine flu and his ministry is closely monitoring the situation as it unfolds. He said it was in daily contact with PAHO/ WHO on new developments and the movement of the virus and added that PAHO has been placed on a 24-hour contact system with the Health Ministry where the issue is concerned. The Ministry of Agriculture and zoologists have also been brought on board to assist in the monitoring scheme.

An outbreak of the disease in Mexico has killed dozens of people, according to news reports.

Ramsammy noted that the swine flu is not a new virus and pointed out that it is the specific category of H1 N1 swine flu that has broken out. Though it does not pose an immediate threat to Guyana as the minister stated, he nevertheless confirmed as well that all necessary measures have been put in place to arrest the problem if there is in any event an outbreak.

Ramsammy said there is no need to have our borders closed or for screening programmes at the airport for persons coming from infected areas.

He said the symptoms of the swine flu were like a common flu, but it may carry a more intense fever at times. Ramsammy said that like the level of preparedness in dealing with the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) some years back, his ministry is equally prepared to deal with the swine flu.

The availability of daily information on the monitoring of the flu, the availability of blood in the blood bank, accessibility to protective masks for health workers and the availability of TAMIFLU (a prescription antiviral medication that can be used to treat and prevent influenza infections) are among the areas of preparedness Ramsammy highlighted, should there be an outbreak. Acknowledging that a challenge of accommodation can be faced since construction works are in progress at the male and female medical wards of the Georgetown Public Hospital, Ramsammy added that patients can be taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital if space became a problem if there were to be an outbreak.

Though the ministry has not suggested that people should not travel to Mexico and other swine flu affected areas, he is urging that persons be aware of the situation nevertheless as it would be important in them making their own choices as to whether to travel or not.