Ministry of Health’s Surveillance System Detects Another Case of Influenza A (H1N1) in the Island

The Ministry of Health’s surveillance system detected another confirmed case of Influenza A (H1N1) in the island yesterday, Wednesday, June 10, 2009. Confirmatory testing was done at the National Influenza Centre, University of the West Indies, Kingston.
This case is a resident of New York who travelled to Jamaica and is recovering satisfactorily.
When persons are classified as suspected cases, samples are taken and appropriate treatment given. Persons who are severely ill are admitted to hospital, isolated while health care workers who care for them, use the necessary precautions. Other persons who are well enough to go home, are asked to remain there to prevent spread of the Influenza A (H1N1) virus and are contacted each day by the Public Health team to ensure compliance. The Ministry’s team also interviews all immediate contacts and takes samples from them while travel histories are determined and other public health investigations carried out. Samples are also taken from the contacts and sent to the laboratory for testing.
The Ministry has now recorded a total of eleven cases of Influenza A (H1N1), with no deaths.