Notable increase in swine flu cases reported in SVG
The Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment in St Vincent and the Grenadines has advised the public to take all the necessary precautionary measures to protect themselves from infectious diseases such as COVID-19, Dengue Fever, Leptospirosis and influenza viruses, including Influenza A - H1NI (swine flu).
In a statement, the ministry says the surveillance committee has reported that during the period December 25, 2023, to January 6, 2024, there was a notable increase in the Influenza A - H1NI (swine flu) cases in SVG with 32 laboratory-confirmed cases.
As of January 6, 2024, there was a total of 9,804 confirmed cases of SARS-COV2 in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) since the outbreak in 2021, of which 243 cases were confirmed in 2023, with two reported so far in 2024.
The ministry notes Influenza (flu) and COVID-19 are highly contagious viral respiratory tract infections that can cause severe illness with life-threatening complications, typically affecting people of all ages and can spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
Some symptoms are:
- high fever (38°C or more)
- dry cough
- sore throat
- body aches and fatigue.
Other symptoms include chills, aches behind the eyes, loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea.
Meanwhile, in 2023, SVG recorded 17 cases of Dengue Fever and 20 cases of Leptospirosis. The ministry says these vector-borne diseases did not exceed the normal levels and do not constitute an outbreak.
Dengue Fever is a mosquito-borne viral illness that is caused by the bite of an infected mosquito. Persons are encouraged to seek early care from their health care providers if they are experiencing fever accompanied with nausea, vomiting, rash or aches and pains (eye pain, typically behind the eyes, muscle, joint, or bone pain).
Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease, spread through contaminated fluids from rodents such as rats and mongooses, that affect humans and animals.
Symptoms associated with Leptospirosis include, high fever, headache, chills, muscle aches, vomiting, jaundice (yellow skin and eyes), red eyes, abdominal pain, diarrhea and rash. Some infected persons, however, may have no symptoms at all.
The Ministry of Health advises anyone experiencing any of these signs and symptoms to seek medical attention from their district healthcare team or their private healthcare provider.
Also testing for influenza, COVID-19, Dengue and Leptospirosis are available in St Vincent and the Grenadines.
The Ministry says it will continue to monitor closely and update the public accordingly.
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