Guyana’s fight against the H1N1 Virus also known as Swine Flu will be primarily focused on non-pharmaceutical measures as there is not enough of the vaccine available locally for mass administration.
This is according to Minister within the Ministry of Public Health Dr. Karen Cummings who explained yesterday that the vaccine is simply too expensive for any mass immunization attempt.
“Whatever amount of the vaccine we have if we have any is not enough to be made available to the general public so we are calling on persons to practise good hygiene, as well as covering their mouth and nose with tissue while sneezing,” the minister noted.
Yesterday the Ministry indicated that Guyana is ready to handle any emergence of Swine Flu, after a reported outbreak in neighbouring Trinidad and Tobago and the three deaths so far.
The ministry released a statement stating that the re-emergence of the virus in the Caribbean is a cause for great concern among public health officials throughout the region. However, it explained that Guyana has already been on a heightened alert since the discovery of the virus in south Trinidad and Tobago and the ministry, through its disease control programme, has already placed a number of measures in place to competently manage any possibility of the virus reaching these shores.
Cummings was quoted as saying, “A technical multidisciplinary response which includes coordinators, and managers of emergency responses has been identified to ensure that appropriate information is available to be disseminated to those who need to know in a timely manner.”
She also noted that challenges and lessons learnt from the pandemic in the Americas, including the establishment of non-pharmaceutical measures, having a vaccination strategy and ensuring strict adherence to international health regulations, are being seriously considered.
In Trinidad the government is currently offering free vaccines to citizens at health centre across the country.
The Trinidad Guardian earlier this month quoted Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh as noting in preparation for the 2019 flu season, the Health Ministry brought in 75,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine, which can be requested at health centres free of charge but that only 14,500 persons had been inoculated.
Locally the Ministry has stressed that through the Surveillance and Disease Control Department it will continue to monitor the disease as blood samples from persons suspected to be infected by the virus will be taken and sent to the Georgetown Public Health Corporation Lab for testing to ascertain whether there is a presence of the virus. Additionally, the ministry will be working along with Port Health Officers at the borders to ensure that there is quick surveillance and detention along with rapid responses to safeguard against the spread of the virus in the country.
The common symptoms of the virus vary from non-febrile mild upper respiratory tract infection to severe pneumonia. Symptoms also include coughing, fever, sore throat, malaise and headache as well as symptoms like nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea in 38% of cases.
Treatment includes supportive management in mild cases to hospitalisation. There is also respiratory support, as well as anti-bacteria and anti-viral treatments. The two important classes of anti-viral medications available for treatment are the Neurainidase inhibitors (Oseltamivir and Zanamivir) and Admantanes (Rimantidine and Amantidine) which should be given in the early stages, preferably within 24 hours of diagnosis.
