BBC (Caribbean) – Officials of the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre, CAREC, say increasing numbers of people getting swine flu at this time is not surprising.

Schools and courthouses were closed in Trinidad and Tobago on Monday, while Grenadian officials have been reporting long lines of people seeking medical attention for swine flu at hospitals and clinics.

In total, there were 43 confirmed deaths in the Caribbean up to the end of last week, including 22 in the Dominican Republic, and seven in Cuba.

Cuba had the most swine flu cases in the Caribbean up to last week – 677, with the Dominican Republic reporting 424.

Others with more than 100 include Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Barbados and Suriname.

There were four deaths each reported in Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, three in Barbados, two in Suriname and one in St Kitts and Nevis.