Swine Flu

Ministry of Health Advisories

11th June 2009 - Press Release

H1N1 is now at Level 6 – Pandemic Status

The WHO today announced the elevation of H1N1 to pandemic status (moving from Level 5 to level 6). This means that H1N1 is now seen as a global spread of the infection. This is the first influenza pandemic for this new millennium.

The Ministry of Health of Guyana has for some time now responded as if we were in a Level 6 situation. Consistent with this position, the Ministry of Health of Guyana has consistently argued that the emergence of H1N1 in Guyana is inevitable, that it is a matter of time before we find our first case. Read more>>

9th June 2009

Press Release

The Ministry of Health has intensified its surveillance for influenza-like cases in an effort to ensure early diagnosis of the H1N1virus in Guyana. This exercise has detected two cases which have been determined are related to travel experiences.

Both cases were detected at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre on the East Bank of Demerara. Blood samples from the two persons have been drawn and are being sent overseas for further tests. Read more>>

30th April 2009

Press Release

The Ministry of Health continues to closely monitor the Influenza A (H1N1) “Swine Flu” situation in its continued efforts to prevent the occurrence of and to mitigate the effects should the disease appear in Guyana.

Today, Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy held the first in a series of meetings with the Pandemic Committee- which also focused on SARS and Avian Flu- to update the committee on the national action plan as it relates to the disease. Read more>>

Advisory against non – essential travel to Mexico

In the light of the Director General’s (World Health Organisation) decision to raise the Pandemic Preparedness to Phase 5: a human to human spread of the H1NI Virus with community level infection in at least two countries in the Americas, the Ministry of Health would like to advise that only essential travel to Mexico be undertaken and all non essential travel be deferred. Read more>>

Advisory against frequent patient visits

The Ministry of Health is advising persons to limit the frequency of visits to patients in hospitals.

While the Ministry is sensitive to the desire of persons to want to visit often with their sick relatives, friends and loved ones, every precautionary measure must be taken in light of the present swine flu epidemic.Read more>>

 

29th April 2009

Press Release

Yesterday, the Ministers of Health of the Americas held an internet conference appraising each other of the status of swine flu in each country and the actions being taken to prevent or mitigate transmission.

This morning, in my capacity as President of the World Health Assembly, I had a telephone conference with Dr. Margaret Chan, the Director General of the WHO, and Dr. DaSilva, the Chair of the Executive Committee of the WHO. Together we agree to accept the recommendations of the expert committee and raise the present level of alert from a Phase 4 to a Phase 5 epidemic. Read more>>

 

28th April 2009

Press Release

The World Health Organization has now classified the present spread of Swine flu as a stage 4 epidemic. Stage 4 means human – to- human transmission.

There are 6 stages. Stage 6 would mean the swine flu epidemic is a pandemic.

Guyana has no evidence to support any case of swine flu in country. But we still have instituted a number of actions. Read more>>

 

25th April 2009

Advisory - Human Cases of Swine Flu

The Ministry of Health is advising that even though there is no immediate threat of swine flu in Guyana, steps are taken to closely monitor the situation and keep the public informed on the situation and how to respond appropriately.

Swine flu is a respiratory viral infection with one of several types of Influenza A virus including the H1N1 currently causing concern in North America among pigs. Occasionally these viruses can spread to human especially persons in closes contact with live pigs (pig farmers, butchers etc) and may case moderate to severe illness. Read more>>