Tests reveal that Belize is still without Influenza A (H1N1)…
At news time tonight Belize has been spared and is still free of Influenza A (H1N1). This is the official word coming from this morning’s press conference held by the Ministry of Health. So far thirty-nine samples have been sent for testing to CAREC in Trinidad and all of them have come back negative. But fourteen were showing other influenza illnesses, three of them did not fit the profile and one case was for another respiratory illness. News Five’s Jose Sanchez reports from today’s conference.
Jose Sanchez Reporting
The fourth conference held by the Ministry of Health concerning the latest batch of samples was held this morning at the Central Regional Laboratory in Belize City. The Director of Health Services, Doctor Michael Pitts, shared the results of the latest tests.
Dr. Michael Pitts, Dir. Of Health Services
“To date we have still not confirmed any case of H1N1 Influenza A in Belize. Which is a very good milestone. In terms of what has been happening, there are certain things, that the disease continues to spread across the globe, but it has maintained its sustained community spread in the Americas. So its still remain at phase five level of pandemic alert internationally. The total number of cases have now reached around twenty-three hundred coming from twenty-four countries. Mexico leads with about eleven hundred cases, there are eleven reported cases from the State of Quintana Roo and Mexico reports forty-two deaths.”
Despite the fatalities exhibited when the virus first appeared in countries such as Mexico, Pitts said that we are now entering a phase where the number of infections will decrease.
Dr. Michael Pitts
“Viruses move in waves. While we are seeing a general levelling of cases. We know that this are also a pattern of these viruses. And you may go to a quiet period and there is a rebound. So while we are comforted to know that there’s some levelling off, we still need to be cautious because there can be rebound and in fact it is usually in the mostly in the second wave with novel viruses that you see the major impact. In what we call this mother of all pandemics the 1918 flu. Demonstrated you have a first wave. This first wave in terms of this epidemic it started the eighteenth of March in Mexico moved around the world and it is levelling off. And it is running maybe about six weeks. If it takes the pattern of the regular disease, you can see a quiet period for about two or three months and then a rebound. If we put dates to this we may well see a rebound down in September.”
A resurgence of the illness in September would coincide with the start of the new school year, when thousands of youths would be eager to mingle after the summer holiday. But Pitts implied that the disease may be losing its potency.
Dr. Michael Pitts
“A key important thing that is happening is that the world is recognizing is that the disease is not acting as a quite fatal disease and in fact is showing features more like the regular flu influenza. So that is something comforting to know. In reporting this, we are saying that the case fatality rate in this epidemic so far has now reduced from a high of seven percent and it’s levelling below two percent as we move along.”
Despite the chameleon like changes in the virus, it is still a threat and common sense should still be practiced.
Dr. Michael Pitts
“We are saying to the population listen, we need to maintain a certain level of alert. We need to maintain the hygienic practice, the cough etiquette, we need to still be sensible, we shouldn’t be making any unessential travel to any area where this disease is and where cases have been reported and if we have any influenza illness please report to your health facility, stay away from schools, stay away from work. Those were the first steps we took early in this disease and it should serve us well
throughout this whole process.”
The pandemic scare is much like the threat of a hurricane. The absence of cases in Belize is like the calm experienced before a storm. Heeding the advice of the medical practitioners may save lives.
Reporting for News Five Jose Sanchez.
Dr. Pitts mentioned that three samples were sent to CAREC for testing today. He said two of them originated from the Corozal District and one from Belize City.
