At the last emergency H1N1 conference in May, chief veterinary officer George Joseph brought into focus the animal aspect of H1N1 influenza relating to news reports that workers in countries like Egypt and Israel had been carrying out government orders in April to slaughter all swine as a precautionary action against H1N1 influenza.
George indicated that he “hoped St Lucia did not get to that level” but said if the situation merited such responses as it unfolded, St Lucia would act accordingly.
In June the World Health Organization (WHO) raised the world pandemic alert to level 5-6, indicative of widespread human infection, declaring swine flu a global pandemic, the first flu pandemic in 40 years. A press conference on Monday confirmed the presence of swine flu in St Lucia. George Joseph was part of the team designated to express St Lucia’s position where the virus was concerned and when it came to H1N1, Joseph said if animals were infected, they would be treated with medication, just as in human cases.
The chief veterinary officer said it appeared that “people had blinkers on” and the focus was only on human cases because “that’s where the positive was.” He wanted to inform all that the alert was still on for the animal population.
“Everything remains the same even though the case was diagnosed on a human subject,” said Joseph. “The animal population is still sensitive to the virus and the possibility of infection.”
George said St Lucia’s alertness level had to be raised now to minimize the possible transmission from the human subject, to the animal subject. In that regard, a farmers meeting is scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday) to “re-sensitize farmers on the whole issue of security levels to be taken up.”