Barbados health authorities are assuring the public that there have been no cases of the HINI virus despite a neighbouring Caribbean island reporting three deaths from the virus recently.
“There has been no increase in cases of respiratory illnesses due to influenza viruses in Barbados above what is normally expected at this time of the year,” said senior Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Leslie Rollock.
She said Barbados recorded six cases of H1N1 last year but no deaths were associated with the illness
Earlier this month, Trinidad and Tobago recorded three deaths attributed to the virus, commonly known as swine flu.
Dr. Rollock said the Influenza A H1N1 virus, along with other influenza viruses such as Influenza A H3N2, has been circulating in the Caribbean since 2009, the medical professional said.
She said that unless the virus mutated into a form that caused more severe disease, it generally posed no increased risk to otherwise healthy people.
People most at risk include children and persons over 65, as well as those with asthma or other lung disease, diabetes, heart disease, severe obesity, kidney disease or other conditions that could interfere with immune function.
Dr. Rollock noted that while reported cases of respiratory illnesses had not reached the national alert level this flu season, it was important for persons to continue to practice good hygiene, which was the most effective way of reducing the transmission of viruses.
“These practices include washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and drying them with disposable tissue. If soap and water are not available, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer is recommended,” she said, further advising people to keep unwashed hands away from the eyes, nose and mouth, and to cover the nose and mouth with tissue when coughing or sneezing.
