June 19, 2009 — A teenage male on St. Thomas is the territory’s second confirmed case of the H1N1 influenza A virus, also known as the swine flu, Health Commissioner Julia Sheen said at a press conference Friday.
The territory’s first case of the swine flu was an adult female on St. Thomas who had traveled off-island prior to getting sick and has since fully recovered.
The young male recently diagnosed with the H1N1 virus had not traveled outside the territory. He and his family have been treated with Tamiflu and are currently in isolation. Health officials are looking into the isolated case to find out how it may have been contracted.
Symptoms of the H1N1 may include high fever over 103 degrees Fahrenheit, coughing, sore throat, and fatigue. Dr. Eugene Tull, the department's epidemiologist, asked that members of the community sanitize hands frequently and cough into their sleeve rather than their hands.
“If you are experiencing two or more symptoms, please seek help immediately," he said, adding that over-the-counter medications can mask symptoms.
"People feel better after taking them and then go to work even though they’re sick," Tull said.
He asked that anyone feeling ill "isolate themselves for 10 days", the duration of the incubation period.
Referring to a group of students at the University of the Virgin Islands who recently traveled to Mexico, Tull said, "They voluntarily kept themselves from interacting with others upon their return."
Sheen asked that parents keep children home from camp if they are not feeling well and requested that local businesses give employees time off to care for their children.
When asked how prevalent the virus is throughout the Caribbean islands, Tull stated that he was unsure but said, "Puerto Rico, Cuba, Trinidad, and the Dominican Republic for sure have cases of infection."
According to Tull, the predominant fear right now is that the availability of a vaccine could take up to six months because this is a new strain of virus.
Physicians detecting cases of the swine flu are required to complete an infectious disease report and report each case to the Health department.
Both the Transportation Security Administration and the West Indian Co. Ltd. (WICO) have been notified and all pertinent government agencies have been put on alert. If someone is traveling outside the U.S. and becomes ill, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents are flagging the individual and restricting their travel.
Officials want the community to be informed about the symptoms and precautions because, as Tull stated, "The more the public is educated, the spread of the virus is lessened."
Health will be providing frequent updates on the status of the virus in the territory and has activated its emergency operations center from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday to receive case reports. Anyone experiencing symptoms are urged to call 773-1311, extension 3262 or 6205.
Over the weekend, residents can call Tull at 626-1654 or email him at eugene.tull@usvi-doh.org.
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