Flu symptoms and at cricket, you might just be pulled aside by the medical team to be tested.

Cricket fans are donning their colours and shining their conch shells ahead of this weekend’s two One Day International matches; West Indies Vs India.   Friday July 3 will see the third ODI in the series while Sunday July 5 will be the wrap up of an exciting battle which has the score tied one all.
Ahead of the packed weekend, the Ministry of Health announced on Monday June 29 St Lucia recorded its first confirmed case of the H1NI virus, more commonly known as Swine Flu.  It was revealed that a 23-year-old
St Lucian woman flying in from the UK sometime last week fell ill and went to her practitioner with her concerns and was later diagnosed with the virus.  The situation is reportedly under control with the woman receiving treatment at her residence and showing signs of a promising recovery.  However, red flags have been raised as this woman had been on island for a few days before she was diagnosed and treated.  The number of persons she has been in contact with is still unknown but, authorities say they are on top of tracking them down.
The H1N1 virus appears under the guise of the common flu-like symptoms including coughing, sneezing, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue and fever and its transmission in humans is similar to the ordinary influenza transmission.
Speaking to the STAR, President of the West Indies Cricket Board, Julian Hunte, has assured that since the report, the WICB has implemented protocols as a precaution to identify and stem the spread of the virus.  Said Hunte: “It’s something that the West Indies Cricket Board has to be concerned about and especially with such a major gathering over the weekend, precautions have to be taken to ensure the pandemic does not spread.”
Mr Hunte expressed confidence in the procedures and said: “There is a medical station at the Beausejour Cricket Grounds and everything is in place. And should anything occur, we have the matter in hand and I am confident in our local practitioners’ ability to deal with whatever situation may arise.”
Will the confirmation of Swine Flu in St Lucia affect this weekend’s cricket attendance?  When this question was put to the WICB head, he responded: “There is no reason to believe it will adversely affect the attendance at cricket and we hope that our assurance that every precaution is being taken will suffice.  If there is not a large turnout, it will be for other reasons, not Swine Flu.”
As for the medical procedures in place at the Beausejour Cricket Grounds, former Chief Medical Officer,
Dr Stephen King, revealed there is one main medical station, fringe satellite stations and also roving medical personnel.  He explained that on the two days, persons who look sick, that is coughing excessively and projecting flu-like symptoms, will be discreetly taken aside by roving
personnel to one of the medical stations where samples will be taken then the patron may be asked to leave the BCG.  Notwithstanding that the rapid test would give an indication of whether the individual has influenza A, further tests would have to be done, and the person’s removal from the grounds is a precautionary measure.  People in the stands surrounding the tested individual case would not be disturbed because they would have had minimal exposure to the virus.
Dr King advises the public not to be paranoid because “not everyone who clears their throat has Swine Flu.”  He is not overly concerned that the pandemic cannot be controlled in St Lucia because of the
solid procedures in place. He is asking the public to use their sensibility and says there is no need for panic and chaos because the regular flu is worse than the present pandemic.