Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, January 30, 2013: Seasonal influenza affects many thousands of people in the Caribbean each year, and as the 2015 season approaches, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) is urging persons to practice good personal hygiene in order to reduce the risk of transmission of influenza and other respiratory viruses.
Executive Director, CARPHA, Dr C. James Hospedales, states that the “primary form of influenza transmission is through interpersonal contact.” He adds that “given elevated flu activity in the United States, combined with the high travel season to the Caribbean, it is important that persons take the necessary steps now, to protect themselves and their loved ones from the flu.”
CARPHA is advising that persons practice good hygiene measures, which include:
Covering your mouth with a tissue or handkerchief, or using your elbow, when sneezing or coughing
Safely disposing of used tissues
Washing your hands with soap and water after coughing and sneezing and before and after meal preparation, eating and using the toilets.
However, the most effective way to prevent the disease or severe outcomes from the illness is vaccination. Safe and effective vaccines have been available and used for more than 60 years. Among healthy adults, influenza vaccine can prevent 70% to 90% of influenza-specific illness. Among the elderly, the vaccine reduces severe illnesses and complications by up to 60%, and deaths by 80%.
Vaccination is especially important for people at higher risk of serious influenza complications, and for people who live with or care for high risk individuals.
Seasonal influenza is characterized by a sudden onset of high fever, cough (usually dry), headache, muscle and joint pain, severe malaise (feeling unwell), sore throat and runny nose. Most people recover from fever and other symptoms within a week without requiring medical attention. But influenza can cause severe illness or death in people at high risk.
The time from infection to illness, known as the incubation period, is about two days. Illnesses can result in hospitalizations and deaths mainly among high-risk groups (the very young, elderly or chronically ill). Worldwide, these annual epidemics result in about three to five million cases of severe illness, and about 250 000 to 500 000 deaths. Most deaths associated with influenza occur among people age 65 or older.
Notes for Editors
The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) is the new single regional public health agency for the Caribbean. It was legally established in July 2011 by an Inter-governmental Agreement signed by Caribbean Member States and began operation in January 2013. The Agency rationalises public health arrangements in the Region by combining the functions of five Caribbean Regional Health Institutions (RHIs) into a single agency. They are:
The Caribbean Environmental Health Institute (CEHI)
The Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC)
The Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute (CFNI)
The Caribbean Health Research Council (CHRC)
The Caribbean Regional Drug Testing Laboratory (CRDTL)
CARPHA brings these RHIs together as one strong force under a public health umbrella where issues requiring a regional response can be addressed.
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Avril Isaac
Communication Officer
Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA)
16-18 Jamaica Boulevard
Federation Park, Port of Spain
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Tel: 868 299 0895 Ext 40252
Fax: 868 622 2792
www.carpha.orgna
