(Trinidad Guardian) Another person has died after contracting the H1N1 virus, commonly referred to as swine flu.
The death occurred sometime between Monday and yesterday afternoon at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope, and the official report was handed to Medical Chief of Staff Dr Andy Bhagwandass yesterday afternoon.
In a brief telephone interview last night, Bhagwandass said he could not divulge much information on the patient, claiming doctor/patient confidentiality as the reason. He added that a report about a mother who recently gave birth and is being treated for the virus, will be given to him today.
The condition of the dead patient deteriorated rapidly after he or she was admitted to the hospital, and is the fifth death from the virus in T&T.
The mother currently warded with the virus, according to a CNC3 report, is listed in a critical condition at the Intensive Care Unit, is being treated for respiratory failure and being given tamiflu. No update was given on the baby.
The two doctors who were treating the patient who died are also said to be in a stable condition, having contracted the virus and are at home.
According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), 14,286 people died worldwide during the 2009 swine flu pandemic of which there were 237 deaths in Central America and Caribbean regions.
Barbados confirmed four cases; Cuba, one; Dominican Republic, 93 and Jamaica, 33. One death was confirmed in Trinidad, with several others being treated for the virus.
However, there were several other suspected deaths in 2009. There were also two confirmed swine flu deaths in 2013.
