Influenza cases rises after independence celebrations
The swine flu scare has dissipated, but that does not mean that the cases have reduced. In the private sector, the numbers were up in September. News Five’s Jose Sanchez has a report.
Jose Sanchez, Reporting
The Influenza A H1N1 continues to spread across the globe and all indications are that it will continue to be a part of the regular flu cycle. Doctor Fernando Cuellar of the Belize Medical Associates believes the public needs to keep informed about the disease.
Dr. Fernando Cuellar, Intensivist/Internist
“By no means we think that the numbers are dwindling. We still see a lot of patients who are exhibiting signs and symptoms of the A H1N1, just to keep the fire burning, so to speak, so that people aware because we haven’t’ heard much coming out from official people in terms of keeping our Belizean populace informed. I think that we should all participate, everybody should do their part in informing the Belizean public.”
Cuellar said most of the cases of Influenza cases screened at BMA since May, came after the tenth of September. That is, after Carnival and nationwide mass gatherings that led up to Independence Day.
Dr. Fernando Cuellar
“May we had ten screens ten tests being done, fifteen in June, eighteen in July, August five again. But come September we had two hundred and eleven, definitely that spike has been seen since September, which is a month ago. More interesting is that it looks, and this isn’t anything conclusive or scientific, just by looking at it we see everything started after the tenth of September. So interestingly we had our national holidays and partying and gatherings and so on. We did see a big increase in numbers. Already in October we have eighty-two being done up to the tenth of October as we see here. Then we see numbers where the positivity also increase from less than five percent, meaning that five percent of the tests being done were positive before—this is for influenza A—before September, but in September those positivity rose up to fifty percent.”
Jose Sanchez
“When it comes to the actual symptoms you are seeing at BMA, are you seeing more mild or serious symptoms?”
Dr. Fernando Cuellar
“What we are seeing in our adult population definitely is patients with very bad flu-like syndrome. They come to us when they realize that the flu-like symptoms or respiratory illnesses that they are having is like none before. They come because they say doc, I feel really bad. I’ve had flu in the past, I’ve had a little cold in the past but a day or two after taking over the counter medication or home remedies I feel better. But over the past or past two days this is really bad and I know something may be different so I’ve come to recheck.”
The rapidly changing disease has forced temporary closure of schools in Caye Caulker and in Belize City many students were sent home because of the spread. Cuellar says even the guidelines are morphing.
Dr. Fernando Cuellar
“I have experienced over the past two months, and I’m seeing the same trend in the literature we read in the U.S., they themselves are changing as they go along. Treatment is starting much earlier. We don’t wait for the persons to become seriously ill. One of the guidelines have always been saying that unless the person develops respiratory distress or unless they have shortness of breath, then you would consider using Tami-flu. I think that’s a little bit too late. I wouldn’t want to wait until somebody develops respiratory distress or have problem breathing to start because then the disease process had already advanced.”
Though there are changes, the protocol such as using hand sanitizers and washing hands remain the same. Reporting for News Five, Jose Sanchez.
