After strengthening collaboration…
THE Ministries of Agriculture and Health have strengthened collaboration to avert an outbreak in Guyana, after the announcement, by World Health Organisation (WHO) on Thursday, elevating Influenza A H1N1 (swine flu) to pandemic status.

Although there is no confirmed trace of the virus in this country of H1N1, its moving from level five to six means it is now seen as a disease with potential for a global spread.

In a release, the Agriculture Ministry assured pig farmers, primarily, that there was no need to panic.

However, that Ministry issued an advisory to members of the public and swine rearers to make them aware of:

* heightened surveillance at all local ports of entry and pig farms;

* the deployment of veterinarians to all 10 Administrative Regions;

* the fact that WHO states that it is safe to eat pork and pork products;

* the fact that a Disease Action Place has been established, should the need arise to contain and control any occurrences of swine flu and

* the collaborative efforts by the two Ministries to prevent the entry of the disease.

The Ministry of Health said it has, through the National Pandemic Influenza Committee, put in place a number of mechanisms to also prevent the entry and or to contain any outbreak that might occur.

The Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy noted that the mechanisms will be further enhanced in the coming days as health workers try to avert the appearance of H1N1.

The Health Ministry advisory said the mechanisms include:
* Border vigilance – at borders, particularly airports and seaports, a more intrusive monitoring mechanism will be implemented. This strategy is expected to see all passengers and staff members travelling to Guyana provide more detailed, individual health and travel information before entering. All persons entering will be required to fill out the Health Declaration Forms before presenting themselves to the immigration officers. These measures may require the authorities to subject travellers to medical examination and also require laboratory testing. They may also require persons to be placed under observation and medication and prophylactic treatment.

* Intensified surveillance – all health facilities and providers will be required to notify the Ministry of any SARI (severe acute respiratory infection). The information must include detailed medical and personal. This is a requirement and all health care providers must, on a daily basis, both report and provide notification of all serious acute respiratory infections.

* Index of Suspicion – the Ministry of Health has invoked its Index of Suspicion Tool for H1N1. Based on that, 13 cases have aroused suspicion and five of those persons have been subjected to testing. The Ministry has a low degree of confidence that any of these cases would be confirmed as H1N1. Only two cases remain as suspects at this time. However, any case that allows the Ministry to enter a person on the index database would be tested for H1N1 and the results are expected in 14 days.

* Public Education – the public will be informed, through daily advisories and a public education programme. The Ministry is advising that the routine good hygiene practices all have been taught must be complied with, including frequent hand washing with soap and water. Persons are encouraged to acquire any one of the hand sanitisers that are commercially available. Above all else, people are encouraged to ensure that they cover their mouths and faces when coughing and all persons should stay clear of others who are openly coughing without taking adequate measures to cover their faces.

* Seek medical attention – persons with fever and acute respiratory infections, such as cough and cold, are advised to seek medical attention at the nearest health centre, hospital or any health care provider.

However, irrespective of the many measures in place, Ramsammy said, given the rapid and global spread of H1N1, the Ministry might only be able to delay the appearance.

In spite of this, it is working to delay the appearance of H1N1 for as long as possible, he said.

H1N1 or swine flu is a new virus of swine origin that was first detected in April this year in Mexico. It infects people and spreads from person to person, sparking growing outbreaks of the illness, in the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses do, mainly through the coughs and sneezes of people who are sick with it.

There is no vaccine yet against the H1N1 virus but, in order to reduce vulnerability, especially among the elderly and children, the Ministry will vaccinate those groups over the next several weeks against the seasonal influenza.

However, in event of an outbreak of the H1N1, the Ministry has, in its possession for use, at least 30,000 doses of Tamiflu.

In case more is needed, reliance can be placed on the production capacity of New Guyana Pharmaceutical Company (NGPC) and the Regional PAHO Warehouse in Panama, the Ministry stated.