Contingency Plan Launch Soon

Published 21st September, 2:15pm

His Excellency, the Governor, Mr. Stuart Jack, CVO will, on Monday 24 September, officially launch the Cayman Islands Influenza Pandemic Contingency Plan. The launch will take place at the Marriott Beach Resort at 5:30pm, and Minister of Health, the Hon. Anthony Eden and Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kiran Kumar are also expected to speak at the event.

Cayman's national plan outlines how the country will prepare for, detect and respond to a flu pandemic to minimize its impact on the Islands' population.

Dr. Kumar points out that scientists are currently watching a dangerous strain of the bird flu virus known as H5N1 which has caused the death and destruction of millions of domestic poultry in Asia, the Middle East and Europe. The H5N1 has also shown a capacity to affect humans, and over 300 have died, mostly in Asia.

The virus currently lacks the ability to transmit from human to human. Those persons who have contracted the disease have done so through direct contact with infected poultry.

"If this or any other virus triggers a pandemic," Dr. Kumar says, "no country including Cayman would be spared."

Over the past several months, a National Influenza Planning Committee headed by the Governor, driven by the Ministry of Health and the Public Health Department, and including other agencies such as Government Information Services and the departments of Agriculture and Environmental Health, has been busy preparing the plan as a key part of the government's preparation to deal with a possible flu pandemic.

Combating the disease will demand a national response, including participation from the business sector, as the workforce would obviously be affected, Dr. Kumar emphasises: "At Monday's launch, we are therefore hoping for a strong turn out of government, business and community leaders."

For further information contact: Prudence Barnes