Belize: 2 deaths from influenza and there are suspected cases of H1N1

[tetano]

The flu season is taking its toll in Belize. And so far, we can confirm that there have been two deaths due to influenza and there are several patients admitted at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital with severe respiratory infections. But the Ministry of Health has another major concern in its hands because there are several suspected cases of H-one N-one. The ministry has sprung into action and convened an urgent meeting this morning in Belize City headed by the Director of Medical Services, Doctor Michael Pitts. Pitts told News Five that in last week alone, five persons were hospitalized with flu-like symptoms. Of the five persons, one has been confirmed to be infected with influenza A.

http://edition.channel5belize.com/archives/94105

[tetano]

Re: Belize: 2 deaths from influenza and there are suspected cases of H1N1

Suspected ?Swine Flu? Outbreak in Belize

The Ministry of Health is conducting tests on a number of patients receiving treatment at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital for severe respiratory infections that is suspected of being Influenza H1N1.

According to a release from the Ministry, over recent weeks there has been a cluster of patients with influenza. Many of those infected were severe cases. There are unconfirmed reports that one of the individual suspected of being infected with the virus died over the Christmas holiday. The Ministry says ?As soon as laboratory results are made available we should be able to confirm or rule out if indeed it is [Influenza H1N1].? Tests have been sent to CAREC in Trinidad and Tobago and should return soon. There is no need to panic as experts now know that H1N1 is no more deadly than seasonal influenza.


http://www.guardian.bz/index.php?opt...d=53:headlines

[NS1]

Re: Belize: 2 deaths from influenza and there are suspected cases of H1N1

pH1N1 US and Tropical Nations
CDC Fall 2013

Map - Active and Detailed

<div style="text-align: center;">
<hr style="width: 20%;" />10 Sequences<hr style="width: 20%;" /></div>
Introduction

Late today, 2014-01-07, a deposit arrived at&nbsp;<strong>GISAID</strong>&nbsp;dated 2014-01-06 by the&nbsp;<span style="color: #783f04;"><b>United States CDC</b></span>&nbsp;of 10&nbsp;<b><span style="color: #632423; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;;">pH1N1</span></b>&nbsp;sequences sampled from mid-September to early December 2013. Geographic surveillance shows a 50 / 50 split between&nbsp;<b>America</b> and several<b>&nbsp;tropical nations.</b>

. . .

Read the Open-Access, Full-Text
Investigational Analytic
including Genetic Details

[NS1]

Re: Belize: 2 deaths from influenza and there are suspected cases of H1N1

News story
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<tr style="float: center;"><td style="font-size: 140%; font-weight: bold;">Suspected ?Swine Flu? Outbreak in Belize
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<tr style="float: center;"><td style="font-size: 90%;">The Ministry of Health is conducting tests on a number of patients receiving treatment at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital for severe respiratory infections that is suspected of being Influenza H1N1.
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<tr style="float: center; font-size: 60%;"><td>Shane D. Williams</td></tr>
<tr style="float: center; font-size: 60%;"><td><a href="http://www.guardian.bz/" target="_blank">The Guardian Belize</a> Thursday, 9 January 2014 00:00</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 100%;">'There is no need to panic as experts now know that H1N1 is no more deadly than seasonal influenza. '</span></div>
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[NS1]

Re: Belize: 2 deaths from influenza and there are suspected cases of H1N1

pH1N1 US and Tropical Nations
CDC Fall 2013

Belize3161_C2C1_10M_2013_09_23
GISAID HA EPI497711

• Clade2: 188T
• Novel Hemagglutinin
• Segment Homology
  
  • HA ~ NorthCarolina09_M1C1_46M_2013_08_27
    
  • NA ~ Florida18_C1C1_42M_2013_06_15
    
• Hemagglutinin
  
  • HA 88A
    
  • HA 364H mix wt
    
• Neuraminidase
  
  • NA 151N mix wt
    

. . .

Read the Open-Access, Full-Text
Investigational Analytic
including Genetic Details

[Shiloh]

Re: Belize: 2 deaths from influenza and there are suspected cases of H1N1

Source: http://www.reporter.bz/front-page/be...mic-in-belize/

Beware! H1N1 endemic in Belize
Posted by The Reporter Newspaper on January 17, 2014 at 3:46 pm
By William Ysaguirre
Staff Reporter

A woman, 29, died of atypical pneumonia caused by the H1N1 influenza virus at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital last Monday, January 6, Dr. Marvin Manzanero announced at a press conference in the K.H.M.H. conference room on Wednesday, January 15.

Dr. Franz Murray, the National coordinator for Tuberculosis at the Ministry of Health, explained that in such cases where such a young person, who is otherwise healthy, dies, the ministry automatically begins an investigation.
He said health personnel’s standard operating procedure in such a death is to trace the victim’s contacts, to determine how she got infected and who else might be sick and in danger...

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Source: http://amandala.com.bz/news/shahera-...ath-swine-flu/


Shahera Bodden, 29, is Belize’s 1st confirmed death from swine flu
Headline — 17 January 2014 — by Adele Ramos

...Currently, medical authorities are treating a 14-year-old who arrived at the hospital with severe respiratory illness, and has been manifesting that condition over the last 36 hours.

The Ministry of Health has also announced that of five severe flu cases sent for testing at the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), one was confirmed to be of the H1N1 strain. Sadly, that one case ended fatally on Monday, January 6, for Shahera Bodden, a 29-year-old mother of Belize City, despite being treated at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) since she was admitted on January 2. Hospital authorities declined to release the name of the deceased due to confidentiality concerns, but said that checks into her medical background didn’t reveal that she had any underlying illness that would have compromised her immunity...

...DHS Pitts also said that there was one person who had reportedly died in the private section of the hospital of flu-like symptoms. That patient, he said, had been advised to take antibiotics, but did not do so, and returned to the medics in a worse condition.

They also confirmed that investigations are ongoing into a report that another Belizean had died in neighboring Mexico from the flu or a flu-like illness...