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No new HINI cases in Saint Lucia

Contact: Lucius Doxerie

Wednesday, July 15, 2009 – H1N1 Influenza has spread worldwide. To date, a total of over 539 deaths have occurred worldwide with 4 confirmed deaths in the Caribbean (2 in Jamaica and 2 in the Dominican Republic).

Of note, the disease seems to be infecting younger persons (less than 60 years) at a much higher rate.

To date, St. Lucia still has only one confirmed case of the disease. The individual involved has recovered fully. All other persons tested so far have been negative for H1N1.

Tamiflu, the medication used to treat H1N1 infections is available in St. Lucia. We encourage all authorised to prescribe and use this medication, only for patients in whom it is indicated in order to avoid Tamiflu resistance; (a situation where the medication may no longer be able to cure the disease).

The World Health Organization (WHO) has indicated that a vaccine to protect against H1N1 should be available by the end of the year. When this vaccine becomes available, priority will be given to groups which are at greatest risk for the disease. This includes groups such as health care workers, persons with chronic conditions and school aged persons.

This is what we should be doing now to protect ourselves from H1N1 Influenza.

1. Cover your cough.
2. Wash your hands frequently
3. Visit a health practitioner if you have flu like symptoms and have visited a country with confirmed cases of H1N1 Influenza, or have had close contact with travellers from such areas.
4. If you have relatives and friends who are visiting from countries with large numbers of H1N1 cases and they develop flu like symptoms- advise them to see a health practitioner
5. Take extra hygiene precautions if you plan on travelling to country with many confirmed cases
6. If you are ill with flu, do not go to work
7. If you are ill with flu, do not go to mass crowd gatherings

For more information, please contact the Ministry of Health at:

(758) 4685309, (758) 4685317, (758) 4685318, (758) 4685300

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