Saint Lucia announces cholera alert
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Contact: Shannon Lebourne
Thursday, December 2, 2010 – The Ministry of Health has stepped up its surveillance for Cholera cases around the island, as a proactive measure. Deputy Epidemiologist Dr Gemma Cherry, says the increased surveillance is in response to a recent decision to put Caribbean countries on a cholera alert following an outbreak of the disease in Haiti and reported cases in the Dominican Republic and Florida.
Dr Cherry explained that Saint Lucia is presently ensuring that it has enough medication, laboratory testing kits and other supplies to be able to adequately detect, diagnose and treat cases of cholera in the event the disease reaches Saint Lucia.
“A plan has been developed to deal with this cholera alert that Saint Lucia has been placed under. Basically, the object of all of this preparation is to try to prevent and control the occurrence of cases and outbreaks of cholera in Saint Lucia, because there is a possibility that we can have imported cases based on what has been happening in Haiti”.
In addition, Dr Cherry said, the Ministry of Health has also intensified its surveillance for gastrointestinal diseases.
“We are also increasing our surveillance at our air and sea ports to recognise travellers who may present with signs and symptoms of Cholera and gastrointestinal diseases. “We are also going to retrain our health personnel who are involved in the clinical management of patients to ensure that they know how to detect cases of cholera and how these cases should be treated. The ministry will also undertake public sensitisation to educate Saint Lucians about cholera and how they can prevent the disease.”
Dr Cherry says the Ministry of Health will issue advisories for people leaving Saint Lucia to travel to and from Haiti as the disease has killed scores of citizens in the neighbouring CARICOM member state.
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine caused by the bacterium vibrato cholera. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhoea and vomiting. Transmission is primarily through consuming contaminated drinking water or food.
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