Friday, 26 February 2010

H1N1 Update — Public Health Announces Flu Clinic Closure

The number of H1N1 cases has steadily declined in the Western Hemisphere, indicating that the peak of the pandemic may have passed.

However, people should still remain vigilant as recent scientific data from the World Health Organization (WHO) indicates continued transmission elsewhere and we therefore cannot let down our guard. The only protection is to be vaccinated, and to maintain good personal hygiene and social distancing.

Since 21 January, the vaccine has been available at HSA facilities, certain public venues and private physicians’ offices. This availability will continue at all HSA facilities and some private doctors’ offices. We have adequate supplies of the vaccine.

At an emergency WHO committee meeting on 23 February held to consider the pandemic status, it was determined that there had been no change in the pandemic phase. The WHO will convene again within the next several weeks to review the global situation.

Since the start of the pandemic, 129 cases of the H1N1 virus were confirmed in the Cayman Islands. The last confirmed case was reported on January 11.

Our surveillance data of persons visiting HSA facilities indicate that flu-like illness cases during the past four weeks are largely the same as before the pandemic, with approximately 80-100 persons being seen weekly with flu-like symptoms. Most of the cases were mild and many persons were without fever.

As a result, the designated flu clinic which was set up for H1N1 cases will be closed, effective 1 March. However, priority will be given to patients with flu-like symptoms at the General Practice clinic, district health centers, Faith Hospital and the Accident and Emergency Unit of the Cayman Islands Hospital. Patients are advised to report to the registration officer or nurse regarding their flu-like symptoms in order to receive priority care.

For more information on H1N1 visit www.CaymanPrepared.ky or www.hsa.ky. The Health Services Authority also offers the public direct responses to their flu queries through its flu email and message system - flu@hsa.ky. This complements the 24-hour flu hotline (926-2812) manned by HSA staff.