Virus is not West Nile, or food poisoning

The illness which some people are mistaking for food poisoning because its symptoms include vomiting and diarrhoea is “an ordinary virus going around and has nothing to do with West Nile Virus” said Dr Neil Singh, president of the General Practitioners Association of TT. He said it is the stomach flu which is causing the diarrhoea and vomiting. Coughing and droplets carried in the air are responsible for the spread of the flu which is “self limiting” and people recover in three to five days. Medical attention should be sought if vomiting and pain persists.

His advice to people falling ill is to increase their intake of fluids (orange juice, coconut water), suppress the vomiting using an anti- emetic and reduce consumption of solid foods. He said simple analgesics can be used for mild fever and body pain. Dr Singh said the emergence of the flu is not uncommon for this time of year and people should not be alarmed. Viruses also regularly occur at Carnival and July-August. He said the rainy season has caused people to be closer together and germs are easily spread. Dr Singh said he has also been seeing chicken pox cases.