Health Ministry: No mystery virus in TT

The onset of the rainy season has brought an increase in viral illnesses which have been sending many people to the doctor.

Red-eye, the Flu, dengue and leptospirosis (a bacterial infection) have been circulating and there has been speculation that a “mystery virus” is among them. The Health Ministry has steadfastly refuted these claims. President of the General Practitioners Association Dr Neil Singh said there is no mystery since annually there are viruses circulating during certain times of the year — eg January-February, Carnival, July-August, September-October. He called claims of a mystery virus “garbage” since they are groundless. Dr Singh has been treating red-eye cases and persons with the flu. He said in the past three weeks he has seen 100 people with the flu. Dr Singh said there is usually an upsurge at the start of the school term. He said the rainy season forced people to be closer together and viruses to be transmitted. Clarifying one misconception he said, “getting wet does not cause the virus.”

Dr Singh said all viruses have headache and fever among their symptoms. While some people have said the virus going around appears to be dengue-like, he refuted this saying, until tests prove otherwise the diagnosis will be “acute viral illness.” Symptoms for Influenza and Parainfluenza include a cough, cold, fever and headaches, while viral gastroenteritis cause diarrhoea or vomiting, and cough and cold. Dr Singh said red-eye is caused by a virus and the increase in cases is also due to the rainy season and close contact between people. Apart from red, itchy eyes, the disease causes a runny nose and fever. It is contagious and can live outside the body for two hours. “People with red-eye should be isolated for five days.” He advised people to wash their hands regularly, wipe eyes with tissue not wash rags, since tissue can be thrown away. He said eye drops (Visine/Optrex) and sterile salt water can be used to wash the eyes. Dr Singh warned against using steroid drops as this can worsen the condition. He said patients are being falsely diagnosed with dengue based on their platelet count dropping below 100. He said many viruses can cause this. “Influenza can drop the platelets to 120 or 110.” A healthy person has a platelet count of 250. The July-August period is usually when many children get viral gastroenteritis. He said this is caused by a rotavirus (enterovirus) in the stomach. It causes vomiting or diarrhoea. The disease is also spread by close contact with infected persons (eg sharing food, water or eating utensils). 

The contagious nature of viruses has resulted in parents getting them from their children. “There are so many single mothers who cannot keep their children home because they have to go to work and the child goes to school and the virus spreads to other children.” Dr Singh said “economic factors” are preventing parents from being able to stay home with their children. He said schools should have a special area for children with cough/cold. To prevent viral illnesses, he recommended a high dosage of Vitamin C, consuming large amounts of fluids, and regular exercise to build resistance. Dr Singh said antibiotics do not kill viruses but are used when “superimposed infections” occur. A south doctor said Leptospirosis cases have increased due to the rainy season. The disease is spread in rat urine and an official from the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre said it is being carried in flood waters. The signs and symptoms include fever, headache, chills, nausea, eye inflammation, and muscle aches. More severe cases can result in liver damage and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, kidney failure and internal bleeding. The doctor said Leptospirosis can be fatal and reported one death last Thursday. It is treated with antibiotics (crystalline penicillin).