St. Lucia confirms first case of H1N1 virus

St. Lucia has been added to the list of Caribbean countries, with confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus after recording its first infection yesterday.



The virus was reportedly detected in a 32-year-old woman who returned to the island over the weekend from a trip to the United Kingdom.



Chief Medical Officer in the health ministry Dr. Josiah Rambally, says the woman has been quarantined and will remain in isolation for the next seven to 10 days.



He says none of the other persons on the woman’s flight has been confirmed with the H1N1 virus.



The St Lucian health ministry has sent samples to the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre in Trinidad and Tobago and is awaiting the results.



Meanwhile, the Mexican Government through its embassy has donated 1 thousand doses of Tami flu to St Lucia.



Tami flu is an antiviral drug used to treat the H1N1 virus.