Mexican treated for swine flu-like symptoms in Sando
Louis B Homer lhomer@trinidadexpress.com
Saturday, May 30th 2009
A Mexican man working for a Trinidad energy company is now at the San Fernando General Hospital, being treated for symptoms similar to those of the H1N1 "swine flu" virus.
The medical ward on which he is being kept has been quarantined.
Whether the man has contracted the potentially fatal illness will be known when testing at the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre at Federation Park, Long Circular, is done.
The "swine flu" was first detected in Mexico in April and, as of May 25, more than 80 Mexicans have died and some 4,000 infected. Cases have been recorded in almost 50 countries, including Venezuela, but the virus is yet to reach Trinidad.
A hospital source told the Express that the Mexican is an employee of one of the energy companies with operations offshore. The source said, "He told doctors that he was in contact with someone in Mexico who had contracted the virus."
The Express learned that the patient was suffering with high fever and other symptoms associated with the swine flu. Test results are expected today.
According to the World Health Organisation, "swine flu" can be spread from person to person in the same way as the regular seasonal influenza viruses.
Louis B Homer lhomer@trinidadexpress.com
Saturday, May 30th 2009
A Mexican man working for a Trinidad energy company is now at the San Fernando General Hospital, being treated for symptoms similar to those of the H1N1 "swine flu" virus.
The medical ward on which he is being kept has been quarantined.
Whether the man has contracted the potentially fatal illness will be known when testing at the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre at Federation Park, Long Circular, is done.
The "swine flu" was first detected in Mexico in April and, as of May 25, more than 80 Mexicans have died and some 4,000 infected. Cases have been recorded in almost 50 countries, including Venezuela, but the virus is yet to reach Trinidad.
A hospital source told the Express that the Mexican is an employee of one of the energy companies with operations offshore. The source said, "He told doctors that he was in contact with someone in Mexico who had contracted the virus."
The Express learned that the patient was suffering with high fever and other symptoms associated with the swine flu. Test results are expected today.
According to the World Health Organisation, "swine flu" can be spread from person to person in the same way as the regular seasonal influenza viruses.
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