The Ministry of Health and Environment (MOH) is informing the general public that there has been an increase in Acute Respiratory Illness (Flu) and there are various Flu strains now circulating in Dominica.
Among them is the H1N1 strain which is seen mostly among adults. H1N1 is commonly known as Swine Flu because in the past, the people who caught it had direct contact with pigs. However that changed some years ago when a new virus emerged that spread among people who hadn’t been near pigs.
Other strains of the flu now circulating in Dominica are Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), Adenovirus (adeno), Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and Rhinovirus (among children), according to the MOH.
The HOH has heightened its Public Health Response including its Public Education campaign. All Health Districts have stepped up surveillance and management of Flu -like Illness.
The Ministry also would like the public to remain alert and protect themselves from getting the Flu.
The symptoms may appear in two different ways:
Mild Flu
Coughing
Running nose
Headache
Low grade fever
Loss of appetite
Feeling tired
Severe Flu
Coughing
Productive coughing
High fever
Body chills
Difficulty breathing
Generalized body pain
Chest pain
Some of the things one can do to protect themselves and others from getting the Flu are as follows:
• Wash hands with soap and water more now than usual;
• If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizers and rub hands together very hard for a minute of more;
• Avoid shaking hands and kissing;
• Cover mouth with a tissue when coughing;
• Cover nose with tissue when sneezing;
• Throw away soiled tissue in a garbage bin after single use;
• Avoid touching your face if your hands are not clean because cold and flu enter your body through the eyes, nose and mouth;
• If you are sick, stay away from crowds, young children and very elderly persons
• Drink a lot of fluids: Juice, Water, Coconut water and soups;
“In order to prevent any further spread of this Flu, everyone must take the necessary steps to protect themselves, their families and the general public,” the MOH said. “Persons with the serious signs of the Flu are asked to visit their health center or doctor,” the release advised.
The MOH strongly advises persons suffering from diabetes, heart problems, asthma, HIV/AIDS, and cancer or taking steroid medications should contact their health care provider as soon as possible if they become affected by the Flu.
Time to quarantine the country before it gets out and spreads through out the Caribbean.
Need to get agricultural ministry involved to avoid destruction of the life stock industry.
my friend dnt forget ur pm promised the new hospital in his manifesto the last election. now u are saying a new hospital would cost too much. adding insult to injury u are telling me to be satisfy with a hospital infested with bed bugs, bird lice, termite and detiorating conditions? are u really thinking?
The symptoms sound like the type of flu there was in Canada and the US before and after Christmas. Some people got very sick from it. Some seniors died of it, those who also had medical problems.
We are supposed to take care of our health throughout the year. The tendency is, when we feel a flu coming on and when we have it, only then we try to take care and by then we already caught it. Then it has to take its course until we feel better.
Oil of Oregano could cut the feeling of the flu but it is expensive. I do not know if it is sold in Dominica.
Echinacea is also effective. It is a tea. There is a new one Echinacea & Goldenseal Herb; all in one, tea bags. It also has to be taken when you feel the flu coming on. Of course, it could be taken when one has a cold. It could cut the feverish feeling.
If you get the flu, simply stay home and nurse it. It could decrease the feeling which should make you get over it quickly. Complete rest is necessary.
Bla, bla, bla. Is it not unique to Dominica. Bla, bla, bla.
five more years of all different sickness and agricultural plagues, five more years of lies to the public,five more yrs, lets enjoy it
Got to love the cruise ship season.
please people, don’t try to be diplomatic about the flu, so just come out and say we have the swine flu virus in Dominica and not, oh there is the H1N1 virus, dumb people like me do not understand those biological jargon. all people know it by the name SWINE FLU..
You obviously have access to the internet and are literate. How about you just educate yourself? ->> http://www.google.com. trust me it can go a long way
Thanks for the info.
five more years?
You read that Matt Peltier? Swine flue! Why must you always be so contrary on your programs, only the brains outperforms you in that department Matt, trying to make callers who don’t agree with you sound foolish. Please, go out and do your research instead of relying on titbits from the likes of Carlisle. Please, become an investigative journalist again Matt, like you used to be.
If matt didn’t raise de issue de authorities would NEVER COME OUT.
Medical workers at de hospital were first to leak out de info….you vex with dem to?
They noticed that the authorities were not being truthful to the public.
Just recently darroux signed at MOU with a hospital in Guadalupe to assist us with de constraints that
exist at PMH.
WE EH GETTING NO NEW HOSPITAL NO TIME SOON!
What about de ground breaking
Can you enlighten me please
You are so right . We will never see a new hospital in this country. What happen to the proposed refurbishment of the PMH as promised on page 24 #2 of the 2005 DLP manifesto and page 21 DLP manifesto 2009. According to these manifestos funding had already been secured from the People’s Republic of China. In 2014 we were again told about a new modern general hospital. From 2005 to 2014 a site has yet to be identified for the said hospital. If you are still hoping to see a new state of the art hospital anytime soon, you have to be one heck of an optimist. I have lost all hope.
A new hospital will cost an exorbitant sum of money and will also take time to build. You have the PMH. Be satisfied with that for now until the new one is built.
Be confident. Do not worry yourself about the new hospital. Take care of your health and pray to God that you do not get sick, at least not soon, and also the flu.
thank god matt made me aware the five more years is indeed the swine flu, MA HIPOCRITE