Gov. Juan F. Luis Hospital confirmed Wednesday that a patient at the hospital has been diagnosed to be infected with the H1N1 influenza or "swine flu."
"The circumstances surrounding this case have been documented and the information has been submitted to the appropriate representatives at the Virgin Islands Department of Health," JFL interim Chief Executive Officer Kendall Griffith said in a statement. "We will continue to provide any and all information to the department on such cases they work to ensure the public is adequately informed and protected this flu season.”
Earlier this year, the Department of Health began monitoring recent reports of a new strain (H7N9) of avian influenza or “bird flu” emerging in China. (See related links below)
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are reporting H1N1 and other flu strains to be present in the United States and the region, but currently at low levels, with no signs of imminent outbreaks.
H1N1 is fatal in less than one in 100 cases but can still be dangerous. At least one Virgin Islands resident died from H1N1 during a worldwide outbreak in 2009.
The symptoms of swine flu mirror that of the seasonal flu and include high fever, headache, runny nose, sore throat, cough, and body ache or fatigue. If you have these symptoms, do not go to work or school until the symptoms have been gone 24 hours.
Influenza viruses spread by coughing and sneezing. Residents are urged wash their hands or use hand sanitizer frequently and to cough or sneeze into sleeves and not into the hands to limit the spread of any influenza virus. Whenever possible, disposable tissues should be used in place of handkerchiefs and hands should be cleaned after the tissue is thrown away, the announcement suggested.
