Earlier we told you about the general situation with the H1N1 virus in Belize: there are no confirmed tests. But there was a suspected case at Belize Medical Associates: a European who came to Belize from Mexico was treated as a suspecte3d case until he did a rapid test at Belize Medical Associates. Jules Vasquez now speaks live with the Director of Health Services Michael Pitts about the case.

Jules Vasquez,
Dr. Pitts, what do you know of the incident involving this European at the Medical Associates?

Dr. Michael Pitts, Director of Health Services
“Well I know that Medical Associates sent over a suspect case to us that they’ve put along with a batch of tests to go to CAREC. I understand that that person came through came through a part of Mexico where they had cases so we have to treat as a suspect case because the person was at Medical Associates, or he is, with flu like symptoms.”

Jules Vasquez,
Have you all been able to provide medication for that person, is that person under medication?

Dr. Michael Pitts,
“Yes I believe Dr. Coyi from Medical Associates made a request and we supported in this instance with medication, the Tamiflu. That is something that we can do in every instance with the private sector but we found it important enough that we tried to assist there. So we aim to give sufficient to give a full treatment of the Tamiflu. The person was not confirmed to be H1N1.”

Jules Vasquez,
I spoke with Dr. Coyi earlier this evening and he indicated they now have the rapid test available and they had performed that rapid test and it was negative for Type A which is H1N1 virus. Would you comment or that or can you comment on that?

Dr. Michael Pitts,
“Well I didn’t know they had any rapid test here but if they are using a rapid test, that is really a screen and if he is saying it screened out the possibility of influenza A group then it would indicate that it would be negative for H1N1. That test, it depends on some technical parameters with that test and there are issues with tests where we look for sensitivity and specificity so we need to know, I don’t know the test so I would need to know what that is and if Dr. Coyi they can share that test with us, we could give support as to what direction to take with it.”

Jules Vasquez,
So but at this time, you all have taken a sample for processing in Trinidad from that person?

Dr. Michael Pitts,
“Yes the sample we got from them. We will be sending it to CAREC and that will have a screen and then it will be subject to further tests to confirm or disapprove H1N1.”

Jules Vasquez,
And we will know the result of that when?

Dr. Michael Pitts,
“We should get that result by tomorrow evening. There was an issue with the courier but it is back on schedule so the samples went out and we should have results tomorrow at around 4 or 5.”

Jules Vasquez,
Okay looking at it retrospectively and prospectively, we haven’t had any cases in Belize. Certainly the sense that I have is that the social vigilance is lessening. People are becoming less on guard against H1N1.

Dr. Michael Pitts,
“I wouldn’t want that at all. Remember I said in the last meeting that it is likely that we’re not having cases because of a high level of vigilance. If we drop that then we expose ourselves to greater possibilities of having cases. So I would like to encourage people to keep up the guard.”

We hope to have the results of all pending tests tomorrow.