Guyana’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud has today confirmed that the patient who was tested positive for the H1N1 virus passed away at a media institution overseas.
The male patient prior to leaving Guyana for medical treatment abroad was initially being monitored at a local private hospital.
INews was told that the man had travelled from China to Guyana via the United States but in-transited briefly in Trinidad. After falling ill the man was admitted to a private city hospital where he remained for over two weeks before being flown to the USA.
During that period, blood samples were sent to neighbouring Trinidad for testing. Those results were returned to Guyana with confirmation that the man had indeed contracted the deadly virus.
Public Health Minister Dr George Norton had previously told other sections of the media that Guyana has the ability to detect and manage the virus. He had said that while Guyana cannot prevent the virus from spreading to these shores, the two main ports of entry – Cheddi Jagan and Ogle International airports – are on the alert and staff members are mandated to report anyone who shows symptoms of the disease.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health announced earlier this week that the medical team that treated the man as well as his relatives were being monitored.
Dr Norton has also announced that vaccines have arrived in Guyana to treat any other case of the flu.
Among the symptoms for H1N1 are chills, fever, coughing, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, fatigue, and diarrhoea.
