Panic, Tamiflu not necessary

Swine flu is a respiratory infection that can spread among people through the air from droplets produced by sneezing or coughing. It may also be contracted by touching infected objects and then touching your nose or mouth. It is said to be a potent combination of the avian, swine and human flu viruses.

The first case of swine flu was a four-year-old boy who made a full recovery two weeks before word of the virus spread. The origin of the virus was said to have been traced to manure lagoons at a pig farm in a village in Mexico.

It has all the symptoms of the common cold and is very similar with the usual sneezing, coughing and fevers associated with the seasonal flu.

Swine flu has been getting a bad rap because it is highly contagious, but doctors have stressed that the H1N1 virus is not a death sentence. The majority of cases have not been severe, but more than 260 people have died through complications from the virus. On June 12, the WHO had raised the swine flu alert to Phase Six, indicating a pandemic. However, it was noted that while this reflected the geographic spread of the virus, it did not suggest any change in its severity.

The latest update shows that the United States had the highest recorded cases with almost 26,000. Unconfirmed reports from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that there were at least one million cases, based on a mathematical modelling.

Up until May 24, nearly 90 percent of reported deaths had taken place in Mexico, the country of origin of the virus. This had led to speculation that Mexico may have been in the midst of an epidemic months prior to the outbreak.

Since the first case was reported in Trinidad and Tobago on June 6, there have been concerns raised by the national community, most of whom were hopeful that the H1N1 virus would not cross to these shores, but this was not to be.

According to a report from the Health Ministry, there are nine new cases of swine flu in Trinidad and 13 in Tobago, 12 recovered and reintegrated cases in this country and 25 in the sister isle and 16 current active and confirmed cases between the two islands.

Even before the first case was confirmed earlier this month, Trinbagonians began flocking to pharmacies and other stores, stocking up on hand sanitisers and face masks to protect themselves.

There was also the problem of TT not being equipped with the test kits needed to confirm swine flu cases.

However, after the flu began to migrate to other countries, the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC) received test kits from the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO). CAREC in TT is responsible for testing specimens from all 21-member CAREC states.

Tamiflu, one of the drug brands used to treat with the virus, was catapulted from near obscurity as a means of treating people who had contracted the H1N1 virus.

The Health Ministry announced that it had been stockpiling and had 138,000 doses of the drug on hand as it had been preparing for pandemic bird flu.

As the WHO raised its pandemic alert, the local ministry implemented a Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Plan which included inter-ministerial and inter-agency collaboration with the Agriculture, Information, Health and National Security ministries, and the various ports.

All passengers coming into the country were screened and those who came in from countries affected by swine flu were sent to Port Health.

Cuba became the first Caribbean territory to record a case of H1N1, a Mexican national studying in Cuba who had returned to the island after vacation, followed by two cases in Jamaica.

The TT Under-17 team were placed in quarantine after their return from Mexico on April 29. The players were later given a clean bill of health.

Despite strict measures taken by countries worldwide, there was no stopping the spread of the virus.

The second case of swine flu was another person who had been travelling with the index case for H1N1, the first confirmed case in TT.

As the cases began to rise, Opposition Senator Wade Mark was the hot topic in the House after he was identified as one of the people on board American Airlines flight 1647, the same as one of the women who had tested positive.

Although Mark said he displayed no symptoms, he was barred from entering the Parliament.

Sister isle Tobago was soon to be included in the casualties as three people were confirmed with H1N1 two weeks ago. They were placed in isolation and treated.

The saga continued in Tobago as Bishops High School was temporarily shut down after one of its students tested positive for the virus, but health authorities have been urging the public that this was not a cause for panic.

The fear spread in tiny Tobago as cases of swine flu were confirmed among students in at least six schools causing parents to stage a noisy protest outside the Signal Hill Government Primary School, demanding to know why the schools were not closed.

There were also concerns about the outbreak of the virus at this time of the year when tourists flock to Tobago especially, and the toll it would take on the tourism industry.

Airlines have been providing face masks and hand sanitisers for those who have requested it, while police officers were seen conducting their duties wearing the conspicuous masks, after a female officer tested positive.

The Caribbean Games, which was to be held in TT next month, has been cancelled amidst fears that it could worsen the spread of the virus in the country. But, is all the panic necessary?

Head of the Health Service Unit at the University of the West Indies, St Augustine, Dr Neil Singh, said the main difference between the common flu and swine flu was that the Influenza A/H1N1 virus was more contagious since it was new and humans had no immunity against it.

However, he said the virus required no medication unless there was excessive vomiting and shortness of breath. In fact, he said, less than five percent of the people who contracted swine flu died from it, unless they had pre-existing conditions or developed pneumonia or bacterial infections. “People who have been affected need plenty of fluids, vitamin C, rest and they need to stay at home,” Singh said during an interview last week.

Singh also warned against the use of face masks which he said could be harmful if not worn properly.

He said the virus could be transferred more quickly because it could be trapped and become more concentrated on the masks, which were not designed for multiple use, and should be disposed of and replaced after using. Singh said one should only use masks if one were within three feet of infected persons. He also noted that sunlight helped to kill the virus while fresh air helped in decreasing the transference of the H1N1.

He added that infected adults should stay at home for seven days while it was advised that children be kept at home for ten days. He noted that even though a person may still have a cough after the seven-day period, this did not mean that they were contagious.

Singh said there was no need for Tamiflu in patients and unless they were extremely ill or may be suffering with asthma, diabetes or pneumonia, should not burden the health system.

“There is no point in wasting national resources in testing people who are well, it is pointless. Swine flu is not virulent and once you are healthy and your body is able to fight off the infection, there is no need to panic and rush to get tested or to get Tamiflu,” Singh said.

The Health Ministry has assured that they have the H1N1 under control and are fully equipped to deal with any cases that may arise.

The latest swine flu data from the WHO:

* United States — 25,904 reported cases with 143 deaths

* Mexico — 8,909 cases with 119 deaths

* United Kingdom — 4,323 cases with 1 death

* Argentina — 1,488 cases with 23 deaths

* Canada — 6,947 cases with 22 deaths

* Chile — 5,186 with 8 deaths

* Australia — 3,519 cases with 4 deaths

* Guatemala — 254 cases with 2 deaths

* Phillippines — 864 cases with 1 death

* Trinidad and Tobago — 75 reported cases with no deaths