Lewis-fuller, Watson, Bullock-ducasse

Health officials last week cautioned Jamaicans not to mistake or confuse the deadly influenza A, or H1N1 virus, more commonly known as swine flu, with what has been customarily referred to as 'hog flu'.

Dr Marion Bullock-Ducasse, director of emergency, disaster management and special services in the Ministry of Health, said the two viruses were completely different.

"It (hog flu) is a different virus. This (swine flu) is a new virus. What persons normally call hog flu in Jamaica really was not even swine influenza, it just referred to very bad attacks of influenza," she told members of the private sector who had gathered at Jamaica House last Monday for a forum on the new disease.

The forum was organised by the American Chamber of Commerce of Jamaica.

Dr Osbil Watson, director of veterinary services in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, further pointed out that it was usually the violent coughing, which often sounded like a pig snorting or grunting, associated with hog flu that influenced the name.

Health officials were also quick to caution Jamaicans against taking the new strain lightly.

Influenza A is a respiratory illness which is transmitted by human-to-human contact, or most recently discovered, human-to-pig contact. Some 120 pigs from a swineherd were recently infected by a carpenter who had worked closely with the pigs on a farm in Alberta, Canada. There is still no evidence that the disease can be transmitted from pigs and pig products to human beings.

Some 21 countries worldwide have reported cases of the influenza A virus since its discovery late last month, with close to 1,500 confirmed cases and over 30 deaths recorded.

In the meantime, Mexican Ambassador to Jamaica, Leonora Rueda, announced that at the end of the month, the Mexican volleyball team would be visiting Jamaica.

She was quick to note that Jamaicans need not worry because "they're not going to send anybody who is sick".

athaliah.reynolds@gleanerjm.com

For more information on the virus, individuals may call the Ministry of Health toll free at 1-888-ONE-LOVE (1-888-663-5683).