May 1 2009 As passengers enter the territory from foreign countries are being processed by Customs and Border Protection, they are also being observed for flu-like symptoms.
In the face of the influenza A H1N1 virus, the name given by the World Health Organization to the strain commonly known as Swine Flu, CBP officers are watching passengers for the symptoms and are prepared to work collaboratively with local health officials, according to Wendy Vallejo, the public affairs liaison officer for CBP's San Juan Field Operations.
"We are the front line of defense and that is why we need to work with other agencies who have the [medical] knowledge or background," Vallejo said. "We are not the health experts."
While the influenza virus tend to mutate quickly, mutation has even extended to the disease's name. The Swine Flu got its moniker changed to influenza A H1N1 virus Thursday after the World Health Organization posted a banner on its website proclaiming the disease's new name. There were numerous complaints from the pork industry that the name had led to unjustified bans on pork products.
"The three main symptoms include a fever of 100 degrees or more with a cough and or a sore throat. These are the key signs," Eugene Tull an epidemiologist with the V.I. Department of Health said.
To date there are no cases of the H1N1 virus in the Virgin Islands.
The V.I. Health Dept Wednesday held a press conference discussing plans should the pandemic reach the territory. (See "Local Health Officials Make Plans in Case of Swine Flu Outbreak.")
While CBP is conducting business as usual, symptomatic passengers will be separated from other passengers and provided with personal protective equipment like a mask and gloves, and local emergency medical staff will be notified to come to the site. "They are the health experts and they will take it from there," Vallejo said.
While some airports are using heat detection technology to survey for fevers, the technology is not currently employed in the Virgin Islands, Vallejo said.
Regular procedures for the CBP have not changed, but CBP headquarters is constantly assessing the situation, according to Vallejo. The local boater's option program, which allows participants to report the arrival of their vessel by phone, has not been suspended.
Tull said the best way to keep from getting the flu is for people to wash their hands and avoid people who are sick.
He also recommended people who are sick or think they might be getting sick should limit their exposure to others.
"We are recommending that people call their doctor and make an appointment," Tull said. "Let the medical professional give you guidance."
There are some similarities that can be drawn between the flu and dengue fever, with symptoms that can mimic the flu, and that the diseases can worsen rapidly.
"Its the same situation here," Tull said. "You just don't want to stay home [sick] without calling the doctor because one of the things we would like to see is for people to get tested for H1N1."
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