Guyana has acquired the PRC equipment to test for H1N1 which is currently being installed at the National Public Health Lab and according to Health Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy routine testing for the virus could start in a few months.
Testing for the feared influenza virus could take another few months, the Minister said yesterday, but training for technicians in the health sector to use the equipment will begin as early as next week. Ramsammy said a period of about one month of local testing will take place when the training has wrapped up, but the specimens would be sent abroad to verify that “our technicians have reached proficiency level”.
He said it is also critical to send the specimens abroad to ensure that the equipment here is working at an appropriate level. The equipment was secured from the US using PEPFAR funds, but the actual procurement was done by the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO).
Ramsammy told Stabroek News that when they are satisfied the testing in Guyana is of a high quality they will begin to do routine testing in Guyana and that results would be available in “over a day or two”.
To date 17 cases of H1N1 have been confirmed in Guyana, but according to the Minister there has not been any new detection in recent days. He said that of the 123 specimens that have been sent out, 114 results have been received while the others are pending.
“Guyana remains on high alert for the virus and we are aware that neighbouring countries have recorded deaths, but there has been none here. If there is a death we would not attempt to conceal any such information from the public”, the Minister said.
However, he noted that it is only a matter of time before a death from the virus is recorded here.
Daily Surveillance Reporting with a special focus on influenza-type illnesses is ongoing at all hospitals, Ramsammy said while noting that routine activities continue at the airports and all other ports of entry in the country. Symptoms of ‘swine flu’ in people are similar to those of regular or seasonal flu and include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing. Some with ‘swine flu’ also have reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.