HEALTH Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy yesterday said Guyana is boosting mechanisms to try to prevent the entry and contain any outbreak of Swine Flu here.

Reacting to the declaration of a global flu pandemic by the World Health Organisation, he said the Health Ministry has consistently argued that the emergence of the flu virus here was inevitable and the mechanisms in place to prevent entry and contain any outbreak will be enhanced.

He said that at the country’s borders, particularly airports and seaports, a more intrusive monitoring mechanism will be implemented.

“In the past we relied completely on the airlines and shipping authorities to inform us of any health problem a passenger or staff member might have encountered during travelling. This strategy will now change and we will require all passengers and staff members to provide more detailed, individual health and travel information before entry into Guyana. All persons entering Guyana will be required to fill out the Health Declaration Forms before presenting themselves to the immigration officers”, he said in a statement.

Ramsammy said these measures may require the authorities to subject travellers to medical examination and require laboratory testing. “These measures may also require persons to be placed under observation and may require these persons to be placed under medication and prophylactic treatment”, he said.

From yesterday, the ministry moved to require all health facilities and providers to notify it of any SARI (severe acute respiratory infection), he said.

The ministry is advising the public that routine good hygiene practices must be complied with, including frequent hand-washing with soap and water.

“We also discourage persons to engage in frequent hand-shaking and other forms of touching people in public. Above all else, people must cover their mouths and faces when coughing and all persons should stay clear of persons who are openly coughing without taking adequate measures to cover their faces”, he said.

The minister said persons with fever and acute respiratory infections, such as cough and cold, should seek medical attention at the nearest health centre, hospital or at any health care provider.

The following symptoms should arouse people’s suspicion and are used as part of the Ministry of Health’s Index of Suspicion:

? Sudden onset of high fever (greater than 39C)

? Cough (dry or productive)

? Sore throat

? Head or body aches

? Shortness of breath, difficulties in breathing, or any chest discomfort

Ramsammy said the ministry has more than 30,000 doses of Tamiflu for use in case of an H1N1 outbreak.

He said if more is needed, stocks can be produced by the New Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation and supplies are available at the regional Pan American Health Organisation warehouse in Panama.

“In order to reduce vulnerability, especially among the elderly and children, Guyana will vaccinate these groups over the next several weeks against the seasonal influenza. A stock of such vaccines arrived in Guyana (yesterday) and we will begin the vaccination process (today)”, he said.