Health officials confirmed yesterday that there has been a sixth death from the Influenza A (H1N1) Swine flu virus. To date, there have been 177 laboratory-confirmed cases of the virus.
The name, gender or additional details about the sixth person to die were not immediately forthcoming, but the Ministry of Health has said that the individual “was within the high risk group”.
Persons who wish to get more H1N1/Swine Flu virus information, can call the Ministry of Health’s toll free line – 1-888-663-5683 – or contact the health department in their parish.
Another swine flu case has been identified and confirmed here in Jamaica, bringing the current total number of confirmed swine flu cases in the island to 81. The most recent case was detected on Friday (August 28).
The Ministry of health is advising individuals to be vigilant and continue to follow the recommended precautions to protect against the spread of the swine flu virus (Influenza A – H1N1). The World Health Organization recently cautioned that individuals should continue to take the necessary care, as there is likely to be a second wave of the virus – with the upcoming traditional flu season in this hemisphere.
Two more Swine Flu (Influenza A – H1N1) cases were confirmed last night here in Jamaica, bringing the total number of confirmed Swine Flu cases in the island to 44. So far, there have been two confirmed deaths as a result of the virus.
Jamaica’s capacity to conduct tests for the virus will improve by next week, as the defective Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machine which is at the National Influenza Center at the University of the West Indies, will be replaced courtesy of the Pan American Health Organization.
A second Influenza A (H1N1) Swine Flu death has been recorded here in Jamaica.
The Ministry of Health released a statement last night saying “The person, who falls within the high-risk group, died at the University Hospital of the West Indies on Thursday and had underlying medical conditions which caused complications.”
The ministry did not release any specific information about the swine flu victim nor did it say what were the patient’s underlying medical conditions were. The Ministry however warned that persons with chronic conditions such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension and asthma, as wells as pregnant women and children under five years old, were among the high-risk group that could develop complications from swine flu.
Jamaica recorded its first Swine Flu death just last week, when a 22 year old male patient died at the University Hospital of the West Indies, after being transferred from the Spanish Town Hospital.
Following consultation with the Ministry of Health, education officials have lifted the ban on summer schools and graduations in Manchester.
The ban was put in place in the parish last month, after two cases of Influenza A H1N1 (formerly Swine Flu) were detected in two students in that parish. Since then, there have been no new cases in Manchester.
The Ministry of Education is reminding parents that they are to keep children with fever and flu-like symptoms away from summer school. Adults working in schools who have these symptoms are also to stay away from work until the fever has cleared up.
School administrators are reminded that where students show flu-like symptoms the matter must be brought to the attention of the relevant health authorities and reported to the Ministry of Education.
Meanwhile, the ministry is reminding schools islandwide that they are to set up areas to quarantine any student with flu-like symptoms. The Ministry is also reminding schools that in such instances, parents are to be notified immediately, the students are to be removed from school, and the matter reported to the Ministries of Education and Health.
At last count, there were 33 confirmed cases of Swine Flu cases in Jamaica.
A male patient with Influenza A (H1N1) reportedly died at the University Hospital of the West Indies this morning, after being transferred from the Spanish Town Hospital. He is Jamaica’s first confirmed swine flu (H1N1) death.
Health Minister Rudyard Spencer has ordered a probe into the death of the man – who is believed to be approximately 22 years old – and has asked a team of doctors to review the case management. Spencer has ordered that the results of the investigation be reported to him upon his return to the island on Friday (from Geneva, Switzerland where he is currently attending the ECOSOC Annual Ministerial Meeting).
According to a report from the health ministry, the patient suffered underlying medical conditions, and the H1N1 virus may have complicated his condition and led to his eventual death.
Jamaica now has 33 cases and one death as a result of the Swine Flu – H1N1 virus. The World Organisation (WHO) currently reports a total death count of 429 people from 94,512 cases of the virus worldwide.
The Ministry of Health’s surveillance team has detected an additional four cases of the Influenza A (H1N1) virus (more popularly known as the swine flu virus) here in Jamaica, bringing the total to 19.
In keeping with its rapid response strategy, the Ministry has interviewed, examined and taken samples from all household contacts and other persons with whom the infected individuals may have come in contact. Investigations of all four cases are still ongoing.
The affected parishes are Kingston & St. Andrew and St. Catherine, with four cases each; St. Mary with three cases; Trelawny with two cases; St. James with three; Westmoreland with one case; Manchester with two cases.
In one school in Manchester, approximately 13% of students reported having flu-like illness and one case was confirmed. The Ministry of Health is asking that persons with flu-like symptoms contact their doctor, health center or hospital.
For more information about Influenza A (H1N1), members of the public may call the Ministry’s toll free line – 1-888-663-5683 – seven days a week, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
