10 CONFIRMED CASES OF INFLUENZA ‘A’ (H1N1) SINCE THE START OF THE YEAR.

THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH SAYS THERE HAVE BEEN 10 CONFIRMED CASES OF INFLUENZA ‘A’ (H1N1) SINCE THE START OF THE YEAR.

THE FIGURE WAS INCLUDED IN A RELEASE FROM THE MINISTRY THIS MORNING.

TWO PERSONS HAVE DIED AS A RESULT OF INFLUENZE ‘A’ (H1N1) – FORMERLY CALLED SWINE FLU.

 

IN THE MEANTIME, THE HEALTH MINISTRY IS URGING PEOPLE WITH CERTAIN CONDITIONS TO TAKE STEPS TO PREVENT GETTING INFECTED WITH H1N1.

THE MINISTRY SAYS CHILDREN UNDER FIVE YEARS OLD, PREGNANT WOMEN, THE ELDERLY, PERSONS WITH NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES SUCH AS DIABETES, CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE, HYPERTENSION, ASTHMA AND THOSE WITH A COMPROMISED IMMUNE SYSTEM- ARE IN A HIGH RISK GROUP AND SHOULD BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL.

THE MINISTRY IS URGING JAMAICANS TO: WASH HANDS FREQUENTLY WITH SOAP AND WATER; COVER MOUTH AND NOSE WHEN SNEEZING OR COUGHING; AVOID TOUCHING EYES, NOSE OR MOUTH WITH DIRTY HANDS; AVOID CONTACT WITH PERSONS WITH FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS; AND AVOID INTIMATE CONTACT INCLUDING HAND SHAKING AND KISSING ESPECIALLY WITH PERSONS WHO HAVE FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS.

INFLUENZA IS A VIRAL RESPIRATORY ILLNESS THAT PRESENTS WITH SYMPTOMS INCLUDING FEVER, SORE THROAT, COUGH, STUFFY NOSE, HEADACHE AND BODY ACHES AND FATIGUE. NAUSEA, VOMITING AND DIARRHEA MAY ALSO BE EXPERIENCED.

INFLUENZA VIRUSES ARE MAINLY SPREAD FROM PERSON TO PERSON THROUGH DROPLETS PRODUCED WHILE COUGHING OR SNEEZING OR BY PERSONS TOUCHING SURFACES CONTAMINATED WITH DROPLETS.