As you are aware, recently there has been an outbreak of swine flu in Mexico, the United States and Canada and a number of other countries. As with any disease that has the potential of becoming an epidemic, or worst still a pandemic, we have to be prepared and put certain precautionary measures in place to control and effectively manage any cases identified in Barbados.
 
In the wake of this outbreak, the World Health Organisation, has stated that the current situation constitutes a public health emergency of international concern and is working with the authorities in those affected countries to better understand the disease and determine its severity.
 
The Ministry of Health convened an emergency meeting, today, to address this matter, and we brought together those key public sector agencies and other stakeholders to discuss a national response to this threat.

This meeting was chaired by the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Joy St. John, and in addition to my Ministry, we have included representatives from the Ministries of Agriculture, Tourism, Education, International Transport and Foreign Affairs; as well as the Pan American Health Organisation, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital,  the Polyclinics, the Public Health Laboratory,  Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association, Department of Emergency Management, Barbados Tourism Authority, Port St.Charles, Grantley Adams International Airport, the Royal Barbados Police Force and the Immigration and Customs Department.

To date, no case of swine flu has been reported in Barbados or the region. However, there are a number of precautionary measures that we urge all members of the public to adopt and these include: frequent hand washing with soap and water, covering your mouth and nose with tissue when sneezing or coughing, and seeking urgent medical attention if you have symptoms of the flu.

Government is working assiduously to effectively manage the situation as we know it at this time, and we will continue to work collectively to implement our plan of action to protect the health of Barbadians.
We will keep monitoring the international events and update the public as the situation unfolds.

(April 27, 2009)