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Friday, 1 May 2009

How to Report Suspected Swine Flu

What to Do

    Answer these questions:

  • Do you have fever with cold symptoms like coughing, runny nose or sore throat?
  • Have you travelled within the past seven days to any community where there are confirmed cases of swine flu? Or have you been in close contact with someone who is known to have swine flu

    • If you answered “Yes” to both questions, proceed to the Cayman Islands Hospital’s A&E.

    Once there, follow signs instructing you to sanitise your hands then place a mask over your face and report immediately to the nurse inside.

Medical Officer of Health Dr Kiran Kumar has issued the following advisory: Anyone who develops flu-like symptoms, (fever with cough, sore throat or cold) within seven days of returning from any swine flu-affected area or having been in close contact with any confirmed case of swine flu must report immediately to the Accident and Emergency Unit at the Cayman Islands Hospital.

Hospital staff members are ready to receive these patients as a priority. Hand sanitizer and masks are provided outside Accident & Emergency. Patients should clean their hands, place a mask over their face and then proceed directly inside to the Triage Desk for assessment if it is a suspected case and appropriate care.

“Asking those suspected of having the flu to wear masks is an effective way of reducing the spread of the virus. We are not currently recommending masks to everyone, as they are not effective in keeping healthy people from getting sick in the community. Masks are useful in preventing infected persons from transmitting the virus to others,” said Dr Kumar.

This is a national health response. The Public Health Department has also advised private practitioners and the Chrissie Tomlinson Hospital of the procedures now in place.

Swine flu symptoms in people are similar to those of seasonal flu and include fever with cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.

“The World Health Organisation has decided yesterday to change the name of the swine flu virus to Influenza A (H1N1). However, these two names will be used interchangeably for some time,” said Dr Kumar.
For more information on swine flu go to www.hsa.ky or www.CaymanPrepared.ky