Swine flu cases in Barbados jump by 8 within a week

The chief medical officer says though people are ill in Barbados, they are all recovering.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, July 10, 2009 – The recorded cases of swine flu has hit the 20 mark, with eight more people confirmed within the past week.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Joy St John who gave the update said two of the latest cases were persons who arrived in the island on a visiting cruise ship.  But she said the infected individuals and others who came into direct contact with them were not allowed to disembark the vessel.

Dr St John said the others in Barbados have recovered from their illness, but she has urged the public to continue taking the necessary precautions to minimise their risk of contracting the virus.

The Chief Medical Officer said the government would also continue to play its part.

“The Ministry is maintaining its public awareness, surveillance and medical response efforts, as well as an ongoing undertaking to provide guidance for mass gatherings, as there are numerous summer camps, sporting events and travel groups on the island, and an increase in Crop Over activities," she said.

Cases of the new influenza strain have been recorded in the Caribbean nations of Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Dominica, St Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, Guyana, the Bahamas, Belize, Cuba, Suriname and the Dominican Republic.

As of yesterday, there were a total of 72,391 confirmed cases, including 430 deaths, in the countries of the Americas, according to the Pan American Health Organisation. Overall there have been over 94,000 cases.