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Friday, October 18, 2013

Trinidad and Tobago : H1N1 virus down, but neuro dengue on the increase

Via News Day :

Health Minister, Dr Fuad Khan, has said that the H1N1 virus appears to be under control, but neuro dengue which could send children into fits, appears to be on the increase.

Speaking with the media following the opening of the World Congress of Surgeons, Obstetrics, Trauma and Anesthesia yesterday at the Hyatt Regency in Port-of-Spain, Khan said that of 300 swabs taken for testing from children at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC) Paediatric Emergency Department over the past week, all were returned negative.

“At the end of the day,” he said, “it (H1N1 virus) seems to be under control, so people should not panic at that level.” The viruses found, he said, were mainly normal respiratory viruses.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has received the 60,000 H1N1 vaccines ordered through the Pan American Health Organisation, and are currently in the system. They are only for high risk persons, and front line workers in the health sector.

On the issue of dengue, Khan said, “what we are finding is an increase in neuro dengue. Children are coming in and going into some fits. We are working on that.”

Urging people to keep their surroundings clean, and get rid of stagnant water which breeds the Aedes mosquito that causes the dengue fever, he said they live principally within and around dwelling houses with a flying span of 20 metres."

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