Re: Honduras: Cases- 100
Re: Honduras: Cases- 100
Source:
http://www.elheraldo.hn/Ediciones/2009/06/17/Noticias/Bebe-en-cuidados-intensivos-por-virus-H1N1
Infant in intensive care for H1N1 virus
Health still does not reveal results from more than 40 tests. For every positive case could have affected 15 or 20 more. Be around the figure between 1,500 and 2,000
16.06.09 - Updated: 16.06.09 10:10 pm - Writing:
diario@elheraldo.hn
Tegucigalpa, Honduras
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Microdroplets are lethal run the country without government, through the Secretariat of Health, to do something to prevent it.
He is known worldwide as the influenza A H1N1 virus that is spread through a sneeze or cough. In the country, over one hundred cases where positive health records.
The latest suspected case met in the capital is a baby of 18 months, from the municipality of Guaimaca, who remains in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Hospital Materno Infantil.
The minor, according to the first analysis, were positive for influenza A, but the result still needs to know if you have influenza type A H1N1.
The patient's health conditions are delicate, because a table respiratory critical.
"The child is grave, and against any outbreak should be capable of isolation," said Jorge Melendez, head of the department of pediatrics.
Could not hide the authorities of the main hospital in the country is still not have a special room for the care of children who develop the disease.
The child was admitted to the Pediatric Emergency room, together with the other children remain hospitalized until they got the test results positive for influenza A. In the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) was not an isolated place to address these types of patients without being put at risk the lives of other children.
Doctors at the time as if they had consulted on an appropriate area, they were nervous and evasive without disclosing further details of the questions the media.
Children up to now are the hardest hit by the virus in the country, because they are over 70 who have been diagnosed with the virus.
Deaths
The analysis performed on two women who died after presenting symptoms similar to those generated by the influenza A H1N1, has not yet disclosed by Health.
One patient died in the hospital campus during the weekend, but the results of tests being performed are not yet known.
School authorities claim that the hospital patient died of heart problems, then stay for more than 24 hours in hospital.
Another of the suspected cases of death from influenza A H1N1 was reported in the hospital in the West, following the death of a patient who presented several months pregnant.
According to Carlos Aguilar, Minister of Health, there is still no scientific evidence to verify that both victims died of the virus.
The results will be announced after conducting a thorough study of each case and test results that were performed, said Aguilar.
Affected
At present, the health authorities, after maintaining a silence on the management of positive cases, do not rule out that there is now more involved, as well as higher number of deaths.
According to experts, for each patient there is a positive number from 15 to 20 people infected, it is estimated that at the national level could be between 1,500 and 2,000 people could have developed the virus.
In San Pedro Sula, the city reported the highest number of cases, it is suspected that more than 700 people have suffered from the disease.
"The disease, according to records, has been mild, but it does not mean we can not have people dying from influenza, which does not mean we can not have more patients and more severe," said the official.
Transpired since the disease, health authorities reported that about 1 percent of the population could result in the disease, ie more than 70 thousand people.
"At this moment we can not predict, because the tendency we have in the country is due to measures implemented, fewer people have been infected but is still very premature," said Aguilar.
More than 567 people who have been treated at public hospitals in the country being regarded as suspected of having influenza A H1N1, of whom 226 were positive for influenza A, 18 were discarded, 100 were positive for influenza A H1N1 and the rest are still unknown results.
According to health authorities, this week will be announced the results of over 40 tests that were analyzed in the laboratory of Virology and then were sent to Atlanta for ratification.
Surveillance
The owner of Health explained that currently no effective surveillance at airports and land customs because the virus is circulating nationally.
Moreover, the cancellation of public events, closing shops and restrict the agglomeration of people in enclosed places are not measures to curb the spread of the virus, according to the official.
"Such measures are appropriate at the start of the virus, there is no benefit in keeping them in the country," said Aguilar.
However, in Mexico, which reported the first cases, these were precisely the provisions that helped to stop the massive spread of the disease.
Questions
Rub?n Palma Carrasco, director of the National Institute Cardiopulmonary (Chest), said the late delivery of results has generated unease not only among the medical staff but also among patients and relatives.
"We believe that examination results must be delivered immediately to expedite the treatment of patients," Palma said.
The previous week, Suyapa Sosa, coordinator of the unit of care to patients with H1N1 virus, resigned from his post due to disagreements regarding the manner in which health was the driving figure of those affected.
* Figures:
567 patients have been treated at public health centers because of suspected influenza A H1N1.
100 positive cases of influenza A H1N1 have been identified in the country to date.
Measures to prevent the spread of virus
Authorities recommend people not to forget the preventive measures such as washing of hands.
On the other hand, avoid close contact with persons showing influenza-type symptoms (fever, sneezing, coughing, chills and muscle aches), because the risk of exposing themselves to infection.
The use of the mask can not be excluded either because it allows a person with symptoms is covering his mouth and nose, which helps to contain particles that are released through a sneeze or cough.
If symptoms develop, immediately go to health centers for the purpose of receiving adequate treatment, because in turn prevent more people affected by the virus.
Children and the elderly are most vulnerable, a situation that requires greater attention.
* Measures in Mexico:
No classes. One of the first measures taken by Mexico to prevent the spread was the suspension of classes at the national level for a period of two weeks.
Work. Mexican authorities also identified suspend work for a period of 5 days, particularly in places of concentration of people.
Events. It also raised the suspension of mass public events in theaters, churches, museums and football games, among others.
Transparency. There were press conferences by the Health Department daily for 2 weeks, reports of numbers of infected sites in the transparency and risk management figures.
Campaigns. The Mexican government did a great job to educate the country: there were mass information campaigns for the population.
Alerts. Although the spread has begun a massive decline, the population still does not drop our guard.
