The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) have said the H1N1 pandemic is over and Health Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy says Guyana has managed to avert a major risk. “We anticipated what could have happened and prevented H1N1 from reaching crisis proportions here,” he said.
Ramsammy pointed out that the WHO and CDC have been criticized for their “overreaction” in addressing the transmission, but noted that being proactive has worked and it is the same methodology that guides the work of the Ministry.
The Health Minister said, “Our reaction averted a major catastrophe.”
In addition to other steps taken to address H1N1, new equipment for testing for H1N1 was acquired, costing some $8M. This was installed at the National Public Health Reference Laboratory (NPHRL) and routine testing commenced earlier this year.
To date there are just over 30 confirmed cases of H1N1 and there have been no reported deaths due to the virus, a plus for Guyana when compared to other countries, some of which which lost hundreds to the novel influenza strain.
Ramsammy added that now the threat is much less, and transmission is unlikely to reach the proportions it did in the initial period.
“We will still monitor the situation,” he said.
Ramsammy noted that there are still some countries that have transmission of the virus outside the regular flu season.
Immunization
Guyana acquired a total of 175,000 doses of vaccines with assistance from Pan American Health Organisation/ World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO).
The Health Minister said at least $200M was estimated to cover the cost of continuing the vaccination.
He noted that it was fortunate that the vaccines for continuing the process were not yet purchased, since the incidents of the virus have reduced.
Ramsammy explained that the vaccines have a specific and short shelf-life, after which they cannot be used, and said many countries have had a problem utilizing the vaccines before they expire.
In Guyana’s case, he said 140,000 vaccines, of the 175,000 doses, have been distributed to the high risk groups: children under five-years-old, pregnant women, persons with asthma and health workers.
The rest is expected to be utilized by the end of October.
“They are in two batches, so one will be finished in September, and the other in October,” Ramsammy said.
When asked if the Ministry will be procuring additional vaccines any time in the future, Ramsammy indicated that the situation will be monitored.
“We will look at the situation. We will not be buying any time soon, unless something changes,” the Health Minister said.
The H1N1 virus is said to spread in the same way seasonal influenza does.