The Ministry of Health and Education (MOHE) and Environmental Health Department (EHD) would like to inform the general public that laboratory tests for TEN individuals conducted at the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC) Reference Laboratory were confirmed as Norovirus.
The investigations of the Public Health Team are ongoing. The local team has recently been strengthened with the arrival of Dr. Lisa Indar, Foodborne Diseases Manager at CAREC and Ms. Leslie Edwards, an Epidemiologist also from CAREC. Additional assistance is due to arrive shortly from PAHO in the form of two Environmental Health Officers with extensive experience working with the hotel industry.
Norovirus is a highly contagious viral illness, which is common in outbreaks of gastroenteritis (diarrhea and vomiting) throughout the world. It can be rapidly transmitted from person to person, through contact with vomitus or feces of infected individuals, contaminated food or water, soiled surfaces, bed linens, gym equipment etc. Other than supportive therapy, it usually requires little by way of medical interventions and usually resolves without incident.
Infection control measures focused on proper hygiene and deep cleaning and sanitization are vital to prevent the spread of norovirus. These are being promoted throughout the TCI. Public Health teams continue to conduct active surveillance at airports and affected hotels to educate and monitor the implementation of these measures.
The Ministry of Health and Education (MOHE) and EHD would also like to take this opportunity to encourage the general public to practice healthy hygienic measures at all times such as frequent hand washing, especially when preparing meals, before eating and after using the toilet. The MOHE will keep the public up to date on any further developments.
The MOHE, EHD, TCI Health Surveillance Team, Hotel Association and Tourist Board are committed to working closely together to address this situation and to ensure that there is little or no disruption to our people, our guests and to business locally and overseas.
Persons experiencing diarrhea, abdominal pain or vomiting should report to the nearest health care facility. Health surveillance team members continue to interview persons experiencing such signs and symptoms. All information will be kept strictly confidential. Updates on status of the investigations will be released as necessary.
