By AZARD ALI Wednesday, October 28 2009

STAY AT home if you are experiencing flu-like symptoms, Dr Avery Hinds — head of Epidemiology at the Ministry of Health — advised yesterday that 163 cases of Influenza A H1N1 (swine flu) have been recorded in TT with four persons dying from the disease.

Hinds gave the advice while touring the San Fernando High Court which was reopened yesterday after being closed on Monday when an official came down with flu-like symptoms.

The official, a policeman, was still being treated at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the San Fernando General Hospital and his condition was listed as critical.

The Third Assizes court where the officer worked up to last Friday, was sanitised and hearings resumed yesterday. Acting Chief Justice Wendell Kangaloo was also present at the courthouse with Hinds. CJ Ivor Archie is currently overseas.

Sitting in the First Assizes, Hinds lectured to court staff including judges, in which he explained that the second wave of the virus was perhaps at its peak as the exodus of people into and from the country increases with the close of the summer vacation. In calling for people contracting flu-like symptoms to stay away from work or school, Hinds said that 260,000 vaccines have been ordered, but will not arrive into the country until mid- November.

The number is insufficient for 1.3 million, the head of the epidemiology said, but the vaccines would be administered to the more vulnerable, “so as to prevent widespread contracting of the illness”.

“There is need to remind people that they need to remain at home if they are ill. Stay at home...(if you have) flu-like symptoms,” Hinds told the court staff. Closure of schools was not warranted at this time, he added, but maintained that sick children must be kept away. “Keep the sick children at home and send the well children to school,” he said.