3 Trinidadians in London hospital with H1N1 flu

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Three Trinidadians are reported to have contracted the H1N1 (swine flu) virus when they went on their hajj trip to Saudi Arabia.

Hajj is an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, and the largest gathering of Muslim people in the world every year. Last year approximately 3.2 million people took the pilgrimage to Mecca, which is the capital of Makkah Province in Saudi Arabia. This year, approximately 250 people from Trinidad, through four Hajj touring companies, took the journey to Mecca. In the first week of October, 87 Muslims were denied getting visas to Saudi Arabia and were forced to return home without entering the Middle East.

This week, two out of the four groups that successfully made it to Mecca have returned to the country. However, three persons are now in London, England because they have contracted the swine flu virus. Madree Swamad, is one of the persons who contracted the H1N1 virus on her Hajj trip. She is currently warded at the University College London in a critical condition. Zabal Baksh, the founder of Caribbean Hajj Tour Groups, told Newsday, ?She got very sick and went to the hospital. She?s not conscious yet, but the doctors say she is doing better.?

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http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,185686.html

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Re: 3 Trinis in London hospital with H1N1 flu

The article also contains:

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Though Khan said he would not disclose the details of the persons who contracted the H1N1, which he said one person is in intensive care; one person is hospitalised and receiving treatment; and the other person is under observation. Khan said a notice was put out for all those who were on that flight. As well he called the different hajj groups to inform them of the situation. Khan said he is very concerned for the health of those three people, but he is happy that they did not contract the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) which is a viral respiratory illness first reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012. Khan said the MERS virus has a higher mortality rate than H1N1. Earlier this month, Khan reported that there were two suspected swine flu deaths in Trinidad.

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A cluster of 3 cases of ILI following the hajj that are this severe certainly merits testing for MERS. It is also worth remembering that a positive result for H1N1 does not exclude a MERS infection; there have already been a couple people infected with both viruses.

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Re: 3 Trinis in London hospital with H1N1 flu

Swine flu patients still in London hospital

The three Trinidadians who contracted the H1N1 virus (swine flu) while on their recent pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia are still being treated at a London hospital. Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan told the media yesterday based on the latest information he had from the TT High Commission in London, England one of the patients is in the Intensive Care Unit of the University College London Hospital, another is being treated on the ward, and the third is under observation.

The patient in the ICU is Madree Swamad, who together with her husband Earl Swamad, were on the pilgrimage. On Sunday, Khan told Newsday a notice was put out for all those who were on the tour group.

http://newsday.co.tt/news/0,185724.html