Bermuda's Response to the Swine Flu

[14ersco]

From the Royal Gazette:

http://www.royalgazette.com/siftology.royalgazette/Article/article.jsp?articleId=7d94e2730030005&sectionId=60

 

Article published April 28. 2009 06:44AM

Reconsider non-urgent travel to North America – Chief Medical Officer

 

By Matthew Taylor

Government is urging people to reconsider non-urgent travel to North America and other areas hit by the potentially deadly swine 'flu.

In Mexico more than 1,600 cases have been reported and the suspected death toll has climbed to 149.

However in the United States around 40 cases have resulted in just one hospitalisation and no fatalities.

Bermuda's Chief Medical Officer John Cann has recommended that Bermuda residents reconsider all non-essential travel to affected areas including Mexico, the US and Canada.

And he said there were also concerns about New Zealand, France and the United Kingdom where suspected cases of swine influenza have shown up in individuals returning from Mexico.

He said Bermuda had no vaccine to tackle this new strain of 'flu.

Swine 'flu is a respiratory disease normally found in pigs and caused by type A influenza viruses. While outbreaks of this type of flu are most common in pigs, human cases of swine 'flu happen. Humans with direct exposure to pigs are most commonly infected with swine 'flu.

Dr. Cann said: "First the World Health Organisation has to clearly define the epidemiology of this virus and be certain of the new strain.

"And then the vaccine manufacturers have to produce a vaccine which can take a few months. There is no vaccine at present for this particular strain, because it's new."

Dr. Cann said the key to limiting the spread of any infection was good hygiene.

He added: "Exercising good health habits by covering one's cough and observing regular hand washing is fundamental to preventing the transmission of any disease."

The Department of Health will also contact schools to stress the good hygiene message. And as an added precaution Dr. Cann encouraged any persons who may feel ill, to visit their doctor.

Dr. Cann said: "The Department of Health will monitor our ports of entry, as we normally do, and take any additional precautions that may be set out by our overseas health counterparts."

Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Warren Jones said Bermuda is in contact with its overseas counterparts at the World Health Organisation (WHO) regarding the status of the outbreak.

Mr. Jones stressed that while there have been deaths in Mexico due to the disease, in the US and Canada, the outbreak has not escalated to the severity level seen in Mexico.

He said: "Local public health officials are meeting today to be updated on the status of this strain of flu and to look at local protocols.

"They will monitor progress overseas and ensure the public are kept informed on key developments."

Confirmed cases of a new strain of human swine influenza A (H1N1) have been identified in Mexico, the US states of California, Texas, Kansas, New York and Ohio and Nova Scotia, in Canada.

Health officials fear a pandemic caused when a new influenza virus sub-type emerges, and the population has little immunity to the virus.

There has been no detection of the human swine influenza A virus (H1N1) in Bermuda.

Symptoms may include:

■ Fever greater than 38 degrees centigrade or 100.4 Fahrenheit

■ Cough

■ Runny nose

■ Sore throat

■ Headache and

■ Muscle pain.

The disease is primarily limited to those who have had direct close contact with an infected person.

The major mode of transmission is through droplet spread when someone with the infection coughs or sneezes droplets into the air and someone else breathes them in or from face to face contact with an infected person.

Government recommend that individuals with febrile (fever) respiratory illness consult their physician and stay home from work or school to avoid spreading infection.

People should observe the following basic hygiene measures:

■ Frequent hand washing, especially after coughing or sneezing,

■ Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing

■ Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth as this spreads germs, and

■ Avoid close contact with sick persons.

Individuals who have concerns can call the Nurse Epidemiologist in the Department of Health at 236 0224.

Last night Shadow Health spokeswoman Louise Jackson said Government needed to clearly communicate that it had a plan to protect people and enough anti-flu drugs to combat any pandemic.

 

 

[scchasgal]

That is great that the Bermuda gov't issued travel advisories to their residents but this week the cruise season starts and they will be getting all kinds of vistors there. So instead of them not travelling to the US the US is coming to them.

[2Cruise4Ever]

Given the fact that the cases in the US are mild in comparison, with even fewer in Canada, why are we included in the warning? They say they don't have vaccines to handle it. Well, guess what? No one does! The vaccine hasn't been created yet!

[ahutch]

anyone know if this is going to hurt our chances of cruising there? we are to leave next week.

[ZoneHPH]

That is great that the Bermuda gov't issued travel advisories to their residents but this week the cruise season starts and they will be getting all kinds of vistors there. So instead of them not travelling to the US the US is coming to them.

 

true.

 

i don't know if they'll close their ports to cruise ships...mainly because they'd lose a lot of business from tourism. by telling it's own residence not to travel abroad it's easier to pin the blame on those that could potentially bring it with them.

 

not a real opinion...just thought i'd throw it out there.

[ahutch]

well. i hope they let us know soon

[KBG]

According to this latest article, Bermudian leadership seems to be playing down the alarmism:

 

http://bermudasun.bm/Main.asp?SectionID=24&SubSectionID=270&ArticleID=41281

 

-KBG

[scchasgal]

According to this latest article, Bermudian leadership seems to be playing down the alarmism:

 

http://bermudasun.bm/Main.asp?SectionID=24&SubSectionID=270&ArticleID=41281

 

-KBG

 

We leave for our cruise to Bermuda in a couple of days and the only extra precaution we are taking it to bring Lysol with us to clear the room and then of course we wash our hands a lot and the hand sanitizer it all over the ship in the food areas.

[ahutch]

that article is really good. it hits the nail on the head.

[Mrs. H.]

well. i hope they let us know soon

 

 

the sooner the better!

 

if we are going to Canada I need to re-pack. lol

[mbisson]

I do sympathize with Bermuda about this...it's sort of one of those "damned if you do & damned if you don't" things

[Linda the Book Lover]

I am hoping things improve and we will be able to enjoy our cruise to Bermuda to visit family without flu worries. In the meanwhile I am using the common sense suggestions everyone is reading everywhere with washing hands etc. Thanks for the article!

[Mrs. H.]

up to 49 swine flu cases in NY as of tonight.

 

I just want to enjoy my cruise. Bad enough we got the noro-virus on last years cruise.

[Tomct]

the sooner the better!

 

if we are going to Canada I need to re-pack. lol

 

We leave Friday for Bermuda on the Spirit. If you believe wha I heard on a local political talk show in CT, that might not be a good idea!! A CNN or MSNBC reporter was doing "man on the street" interviews in Mexico, and some native said the first known case of Swine Flu was someone from Canada who "brought" it to Mexico. All the other clips were Mexicans who blamed the United States. There was no apparent validity in anything they were saying, and this conservative talk show host was basically blasting the "liberal" media for going to Mexico to dig up dirt on the US.

 

One other interesting comment made on the piece was about a Mexican mentioned they should close the border into Mexico. That would be funny to hear they would close the border, as it would prevent some illegal aliens from entering the US. On the serious side. it's scary that many Mexicans just may head North to seek medical attention.

[fin]

We had Asian Flu and Hong Kong flu.

 

So why isn't this Mexican flu?

[deepnite10]

with CCL canceling ports of call in Mexico and transfering

stop s to the Pacific Northwest..i see many of them canceling and

rebooking on the Star and Pearl :mad:

[deepnite10]

We had Asian Flu and Hong Kong flu.

 

So why isn't this Mexican flu?

 

Pigs are everywhere:D

[bluefintuna]

Sure hope the Bermuda cruises aren't cancelled. If they were, Bermuda would have to stop incoming flights also. Many, many tourists on those planes and cruise ships.

[ahutch]

i agree

[ahutch]

i agree

[Philly Steve]

Let's hope there are no confirmed cases of the virus in Bermuda.

[CruisinMaterial]

I doubt Bermuda will cancel the cruise ships calling. Tourism is a major business on the island. Businesses there would go bankrupt for sure if the cruisers were shut out. I think if Bermuda is smart about it they'll be able to screen passengers that are arriving much the same way Japan is doing.

[ahutch]

I agree. we leave next week and hopefully this will all blow over before we get back. who knows, bermuda may be the safest place to be.

[CruisinMaterial]

BDA will hopefully be safe so long as none of the ships are carrying passengers who came from contaminated areas. Should be interesting to see how NCL works this one out. Once swine flu gets on a cruise ship they'd probably have to pull the ship out of service for days to do a deep thorough cleaning. Let's hope THAT doesn't happen!!

[VillaHappy]

Approx 40-50 cases in the US - and Bermuda gov't advises her residents to avoid non essential travel to the US? Ludicrous. :mad: