Health Minister Jerry Narace says the members of the T&T National Under-17 Football Team, now in Mexico, are to be quarantined on their return home, following an outbreak of swine flu that country. Several people have died as a result of the virus. “Please be advised that arrangements are in place so that, on their arrival, they will be placed in an environment of quarantine,” Narace told a news conference at his Park Street Office, yesterday. He said this measure was agreed to by Fifa Vice President Jack Warner. And he said in a brief telephone interview that arrangements have been made for the footballers to be taken to Sportel Hotel, where they would be checked by doctors. He said the players are expected to remain their for about three days.

He said selective screening of people returning home should begin at the air and sea ports from today. Narace said visitors’ passport history will be checked to determine if they should be screened. He said if the person was returning from a swine flu-affected country, he or she would be screened. “Additionally, we will be deploying more personnel to all ports of entry.” Narace said Government will be able to activate the country’s disaster preparedness plan “so as to treat with any extreme circumstances. Our disaster preparedness includes an adequate supply of ventilators.”

He said the ministry had in stock “120,000 doses of Odeltamavir, commonly known as Tamiflu, used to treat swine flu in humans.” Narace said that “using a similar approach to that of the distribution of the yellow fever vaccine, and in keeping with international protocols, we will be using a strategic approach to risk-reduction, focussing on high-risk population groups.” He said the initiatives are being undertaken in collaboration with the Ministries of National Security, Agriculture, Foreign Affairs and Information. Narace said he held discussions with the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) “and if there is an emergency PAHO/WHO will deploy additional doses of Tamiflu, technical support, as well as additional supplies of Personnel Protective Equipment (PPEs).”

Narace called on all people who entered the country over the past seven days and have symptoms of influenza to visit a doctor. He said Government is expected to advise T&T nationals at home and abroad against travelling to countries where there is an outbreak of swine flu. “We will continue screening food supplies... This is a serious global situation and in some countries public health emergencies have been declared. We stand ready to respond appropriately,” he also said. Narace reiterated that he was not aware of any reported, probable or confirmed cases of Swine Flu in T&T. Narace said the “most significant weapon” would be hygiene, which included “covering your coughs and sneezes and washing hands immediately after coughing and sneezing.” And chief medical officer Dr Anton Cumberbatch said citizens “will not get the virus from the eating of pork.”

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Cumberbatch said Swine Flu was originally transmitted via pigs but the virus has now mixed with the Avian Influenza and man and this virus is causing concerns. He said the Swine Flu symptoms are very similar to the regular flu. They include fever, a lack of appetite, coughing , runny nose, vomiting and diarrhoea. He said the virus can be transmitted from pigs to humans and from pigs to pigs. He said the global problem is as a result of the virus being transmitted from man to man.