No Swine Flu in Matthew’s Ridge

DPI, Guyana, Monday, April 1, 2019

Public Health Officials have ruled out Swine Flu (H1N1), Zika, Chikungunya, Dengue, Influenza A and B as possible causes of the recent spate of illnesses and death in Matthew’s Ridge. Thus far, there has been no evidence of person to person transmission of infection. It is noted that only persons who were directly exposed to one common area became ill.

As of the Sunday, March 31, a response team comprising the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Surveillance, EH, doctors and nurses were dispatched to Region 1 to support the efforts taken in the region to address the illnesses. The fortified health response focuses on:

1) providing uninterrupted health services to the residents of Matthew’s Ridge and,

2) on conducting health assessments of all persons working in the mining area.

The decision was taken to transfer all the patients with the acute respiratory illness, rash and fever to our tertiary institution – the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) where critical care can be provided, should the need arise. While the specialists continue to work on the seven patients admitted on Saturday, results have shown that two patients tested positive for Leptospirosis, which is known to be spread by direct contact with rat urine or faeces. Further tests are being conducted locally, and samples will be sent overseas with support from PAHO and CARPHA to get further tests done to rule out other possible infections.

The Public Health Ministry is taking all necessary precautions to ensure staff and members of the community at Matthew’s Ridge are kept safe.

The mining company has been instructed to halt further exploration until the ministry and a team from the Occupational Health and Safety department of the Ministry of Social Protection can advise further. The Ministry of Public Health, along with partners, will continue to monitor the situation closely until resolution.