42 H1N1 cases lab confirmed

Deyalsingh yesterday told Newsday that of the four who died on account of the H1N1 virus, one was a pregnant woman, Stacy Ramkissoon, 28. Ramkisson’s baby died shortly after birth at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex. Ramkissoon succumbed some two weeks later at the institution .

The others were a kidney transplant patient, and diabetic, and hypertensive patients .

On December 18, Deyalsingh had told the media that 29 cases of H1N1 flu virus were confirmed .

Yesterday, he said in more recent days that the Caribbean Public Health Agency has confirmed 42 cases to date .

Deyalsingh reiterated that there was no need to panic as H1N1 has been around Trinidad and Tobago since the first case was detected in 2009 .

Among the symptoms for H1N1 are chills, fever, coughing, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, fatigue, and diarrhoea .

Apart from drugs administered persons are advised to rehydrate as much as possible .

Vaccines are available for the high risk persons. The high risk population include frontline health workers, pregnant women, children under five, and the elderly over 65 years .

Others at high risk are persons using steroids such as asthmatics, and those suffering from arthritis and rheumatism, and those on immunosuppressant drugs. Free vaccines are available through public health centres .