Head of the Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit — Ministry of Health and Social Security, Dr. Alister Antoine, told the Government Information Services (GIS) that, despite reports in St. Vincent there have been no confirmed cases of the virus in Grenada.
“So there is no need for panic — We have been in discussions with the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and we can safely say that there are absolutely no confirmed case of the Influenza A – H1N1 virus present in Grenada at this time”.
“St. Vincent and the Grenadines is a stone’s throw away but such a report warrants no unnecessary panic and hype”, he remarked.
When asked about the public’s expectations, Antoine said the hype now should and always be the practice of personal hygiene — by covering their mouth with a tissue or handkerchief if sneezing or coughing, washing of hands before and after meal preparation, eating and use of the toilets with soap and clean running water or an alcohol based hand-sanitizer.
He said such practices are known to have reduced the risk of transmission of the virus.
Meanwhile the Ministry of Health has activated its pandemic response plan and has taken steps to prevent the spread of the virus should it come to that. It includes the stepping up of our active monitoring and surveillance systems at our ports of entry.
