Belize still free of Influenza A (H1N1)
The Ministry of Health held a press conference at the Central Regional Laboratory in Belize City this afternoon on the Influenza A (H1N1) outbreak that is affecting forty-one countries around the world including countries as far as Israel and Japan and as close as our neighbouring Mexico’s bordering state of Quintana Roo. There are ten thousand two hundred and forty-three cases confirmed in the world along with eighty deaths. The news coming out of today’s conference is that Belize is still free of Influenza A (H1N1) and that mass gatherings such as the Morgan Heritage concert and the Agricultural Show can proceed as originally planned.
Dr. Michael Pitts, Director of Health Services
“In terms of numbers quickly and this is where most people want to be. We need to say that there are no confirmed cases of H1N1 in Belize. The facts that we have on the ground is that we have sent forty-six tests to CAREC and all came back negative. Over yesterday we sent one additional test for a case of interest. The last weekend we have no demand for new tests. In terms of what are the facts for the disease is that it is becoming clearer and clearer that this disease is acting more like seasonal influenza but you just need to be reminded it’s another virus so there’s significant lack of immunity. There’s no vaccine so the burden for this disease seems as though it will fit a pattern where we have morbidity than mortality, more illness than deaths. In terms of our own domestic affairs, we have moved to the response and these are some of the things we would want people to bear in mind. We are now saying that we will allow mass gathering, but we want people to bear in mind the hygiene practices that we spoke about; the hand washing, the cough etiquette, the fact that if you are ill you will try to avoid going to these mass gatherings and instead you go to your doctor.”
Jose Sanchez
“Concerning the surveillance at the borders and the international airport, has anything changed? I know you have been very vigilant so far.”
Dr. Paul Edwards, Epidemiologist
“When we—our response definitely necessitates for it to be evidence based. When we looked at the situation in Mexico returning to normal, the decision was made that we will not continue our surveillance; there is not a need for the surveillance at the airport nor at the border entry ports based on their reaction and the fact to the things that happened here in Belize. However, we will continue our surveillance at the health facilities. We want to be alert and those are the factors that will trigger us because that provides information for our endemic channels to be able to see when there is any new trend arising to be able to react in an appropriate and opportune fashion.”
