On H1N1 in Trinidad and Tobago

October 23, 2009 by Taran Rampersad

Full disclosure: I'm not a doctor, I do have a medical background... but this is all pretty much common sense. Apply liberally.

There are a lot of people, globally, caught up in fear of the Swine Flu (H1N1). According to the World Health Organization,  there have been 5,000 documented deaths caused by Swine Flu to date. That may seem like a lot, but let's put it into context with other diseases. In Trinidad and Tobago, the present deaths can be counted with fingers.

The CDC averages annual deaths from the seasonal flu in the United States alone is roughly 36,000. Really. Put into that context, how bad is the Swine Flu?

It's all in how you look at the figures.

But the popular reaction to the Swine Flu hasn't been that scientific, and it shouldn't be expected to be. It's a threat to the health gives an emotional response which can and should be capitalized on. How do you prevent the spread of the Swine Flu? 

The very same way you're supposed to avoid spreading any disease. Wash your hands. Cover your mouth when you cough, cover your nose when you sneeze. Don't believe me? Check the Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Health website, or any other website. It's all in plain view.

Did anyone really think it was possible that a country wouldn't have cases of the Swine Flu? I'm not saying that the deaths in Trinidad and Tobago weren't due to lack of proper care - I don't know - but what I am saying is that some deaths should be expected. 

Why hasn't the media written something like this? I have no idea. It took me about 10 minutes to look up the statistics.

Prevention is as simple as what people should be teaching their children anyway.

As far as the medical system, or lack thereof, in Trinidad and Tobago - the first thing that should be asked for from the Ministry of Health are their statistics for deaths and causes of death - across the board. That it isn't on their website doesn't mean that it isn't available... though, having some insight in how medical institutions actually track such information in Trinidad and Tobago, we can expect the data to be questionable.

To put this even more into perspective: By the World Health Organization Statistics (XLS spreadsheet), Leprosy has accounted for 213,373 cases worldwide in 2007. Of those, 30 were in Trinidad and Tobago. Have you heard about those 30 cases? Unlikely. The statistics don't show whether people died of the cases, so lets agree that they didn't and the lepers are still running amok. Or would you prefer them dead?

Permalink