This increase is evident in visits to both emergency departments and Wellness Centers. Notably, there is a higher incidence among children under 5 years of age.
“Nationally, in addition to COVID-19, the Epidemiology Unit at the Ministry of Health has recorded an increase in confirmed cases of Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Influenza, for the period October 08 to December, 2023,” CMO Sharon Belmar-George disclosed.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that HV.1 has become the most dominant variant in the United States, with symptoms closely resembling a cold or the flu. These symptoms include fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle aches, cough, runny nose, sore throat, and congestion.
The CMO informs the public that HV.1 has also made an appearance in Saint Lucia.
“On January 17, 2024 the Ministry of Health received laboratory results from the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) confirming the presence of Omicron variant HV.1 in samples submitted by the national reference Ezra Long Laboratory.”
Despite the fact that HV.1 seems to be highly transmissible, experts agree that the new subvariant is not known to cause severe disease. This is the likely cause for the increased respiratory illness noted in country.
The public is encouraged to reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses by the following measures:
- maintain proper hand hygiene with regular hand washing
- cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing
- wash hands thoroughly after coughing or sneezing
- wear a face mask where possible in crowded places and when presenting flu-like symptoms
- avoid sharing cups and utensils
- avoid close contact with others who are sick
- clean surfaces and objects using household detergent
- refrain from sending sick children to school or daycare centers until they are resolved
- If symptomatic, avoid contact with people at higher risk of severe illness such as infants, older people, and those who are immunocompromised
- educational institutions, workplaces, business places, and healthcare facilities are advised to strengthen sanitary protocols to reduce transmission
- consult a healthcare professional if flu-like symptoms linger or worsen
The Ministry of Health alerts the general public to take the necessary measures to reduce the impact of respiratory illness at this time. Further updates will be provided.