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<LABEL class=article-particulars>Further testing to determine cause of boys’ mysterious deaths </LABEL>
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<LABEL class=article-particulars>By Amar Spencer - Saturday, April 10th, 2010</LABEL>
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Photo: From left, Nurse Epidemiologist Sybil Smith; Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health Edson Joseph; Chief Medical Officer Dr Rhonda Sealey-Thomas; Medical Officer of Health Dr Oritta Zachariah; Public Relations Officer for the Ministry of Health Colin O’Neal in a press conference at the Ministry of Health yesterday
An autopsy was conducted on Thursday on the two boys who died suddenly in Liberta and English Harbour. However, specimen had to be sent to the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC) in Trinidad & Tobago yesterday for further testing so that the exact cause of death can be determined.
Health officials made the announcement in a press briefing at the Ministry of Health.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Rhonda Sealey-Thomas said that the medical officials at CAREC have been asked to expedite the investigation so that the results can be sent back to Antigua & Barbuda as soon as possible.
In the meantime, the Ministry of Health has been keeping tabs on any cases of persons with symptoms of diarrhoea, fever and vomiting, she said. Dr Sealey-Thomas therefore cautioned residents to be on the lookout for any such occurrences.
According to Medical Officer of Health Dr Oritta Zachariah, based on the symptoms the two boys exhibited, it can be construed that the disease is infectious and could possibly be from a point source.
“We can reasonably assume it was infectious because the pathogenesis suggests some sort of viral illness,” she said. “We have done our investigations … and we have had questions asked of all the communities in which these two children resided.”
Asked if there have been any other incidences of the illness, Dr Zachariah confirmed there have only been the two cases and reiterated the importance for parents and the public at large to be vigilant of any such symptoms.
But she noted that there has been an increase in vomiting, diarrhoea and fever over the past three weeks because of the dry conditions and water rationing.
When Dr Zachariah was questioned on whether there is a possibility that the disease could have been from a foreign source, given the proximity of Liberta and English Harbour to a port, she said it could be foreign or it could be endemic.
Dr Zachariah further noted that they have also not ruled out the possibility that the deaths could have been caused by the Influenza A H1N1, as a swab was taken from one of the deceased to be sent to CAREC to test for the virus.
Meanwhile, assuring the public that the Ministry of Health is committed to ensuring the well-being of the populace, Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health Edson Joseph said: “The Ministry of Health is taking this matter as a very serious one and everything will be done to ensure the safety of our citizens and to maintain the wellness that they presently experience and enjoy.
“As soon as the information is disseminated pertaining to the cause of death, that if it is infectious, that every precaution will be taken to isolate or quarantine those who have been in contact with those who have passed and every effort would be made to ensure that they are properly treated so that they can be in a state of wellness once again,” he added.
The health officials renewed their calls for residents to practise proper hygiene and to ensure that children are hydrated at all times. The two boys, victims of what has become a mysterious illness, died just two days apart.
The first victim was six-year-old Alfred Norwood Perkins who lived in English Harbour and died on Monday a few hours after waking with a fever.
By Wednesday, nine-year-old Ishmael Bailey of Liberta died shortly after exhibiting symptoms of fever, diarrhoea and vomiting.
http://antiguaobserver.com/?p=29227
<LABEL class=article-particulars></LABEL>
<LABEL class=article-particulars>By Amar Spencer - Saturday, April 10th, 2010</LABEL>
<!-- content -->
Photo: From left, Nurse Epidemiologist Sybil Smith; Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health Edson Joseph; Chief Medical Officer Dr Rhonda Sealey-Thomas; Medical Officer of Health Dr Oritta Zachariah; Public Relations Officer for the Ministry of Health Colin O’Neal in a press conference at the Ministry of Health yesterday An autopsy was conducted on Thursday on the two boys who died suddenly in Liberta and English Harbour. However, specimen had to be sent to the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC) in Trinidad & Tobago yesterday for further testing so that the exact cause of death can be determined.
Health officials made the announcement in a press briefing at the Ministry of Health.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Rhonda Sealey-Thomas said that the medical officials at CAREC have been asked to expedite the investigation so that the results can be sent back to Antigua & Barbuda as soon as possible.
In the meantime, the Ministry of Health has been keeping tabs on any cases of persons with symptoms of diarrhoea, fever and vomiting, she said. Dr Sealey-Thomas therefore cautioned residents to be on the lookout for any such occurrences.
According to Medical Officer of Health Dr Oritta Zachariah, based on the symptoms the two boys exhibited, it can be construed that the disease is infectious and could possibly be from a point source.
“We can reasonably assume it was infectious because the pathogenesis suggests some sort of viral illness,” she said. “We have done our investigations … and we have had questions asked of all the communities in which these two children resided.”
Asked if there have been any other incidences of the illness, Dr Zachariah confirmed there have only been the two cases and reiterated the importance for parents and the public at large to be vigilant of any such symptoms.
But she noted that there has been an increase in vomiting, diarrhoea and fever over the past three weeks because of the dry conditions and water rationing.
When Dr Zachariah was questioned on whether there is a possibility that the disease could have been from a foreign source, given the proximity of Liberta and English Harbour to a port, she said it could be foreign or it could be endemic.
Dr Zachariah further noted that they have also not ruled out the possibility that the deaths could have been caused by the Influenza A H1N1, as a swab was taken from one of the deceased to be sent to CAREC to test for the virus.
Meanwhile, assuring the public that the Ministry of Health is committed to ensuring the well-being of the populace, Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health Edson Joseph said: “The Ministry of Health is taking this matter as a very serious one and everything will be done to ensure the safety of our citizens and to maintain the wellness that they presently experience and enjoy.
“As soon as the information is disseminated pertaining to the cause of death, that if it is infectious, that every precaution will be taken to isolate or quarantine those who have been in contact with those who have passed and every effort would be made to ensure that they are properly treated so that they can be in a state of wellness once again,” he added.
The health officials renewed their calls for residents to practise proper hygiene and to ensure that children are hydrated at all times. The two boys, victims of what has become a mysterious illness, died just two days apart.
The first victim was six-year-old Alfred Norwood Perkins who lived in English Harbour and died on Monday a few hours after waking with a fever.
By Wednesday, nine-year-old Ishmael Bailey of Liberta died shortly after exhibiting symptoms of fever, diarrhoea and vomiting.
http://antiguaobserver.com/?p=29227
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