It's best to stay away from eating meats and eggs until the coast is clear.:cross-eye
???But there has been no mention on DR1 about the swine flu and there have been some deaths from it so best to be aware
Take care for influenza virus
A pregnant woman with symptoms of the AH1N1 influenza virus is being treated in a public hospital in Greater Santo Domingo, while the Minister of Public Health, Freddy Hidalgo, is waiting for the results of the tests on four people who died with symptoms of the influenza virus, in order to establish whether AH1N1 was the cause. This weekend, Hidalgo received a report that the patient might have the disease. She is currently under treatment and out of danger.
Apart from the cases under investigation, so far in the country the deaths of seven patients with the same symptoms of this type of the flu have been confirmed. Hidalgo Nunez said that the results of the investigation into these deaths could be ready by the middle of the week. The deceased include pregnant women and elderly people. Since the first fatalities suspected of being from the AH1N1 virus were published, the Ministry of Public Health issued an epidemiological alert at all public health facilities so that personnel are aware of the symptoms in patients, especially the chronically ill, the elderly, children and pregnant women, who are the most vulnerable if they contract this influenza. The Minister of Public Health stresses the need to be attentive to pregnant women, since this illness affects the maternal mortality rate, which so far this year has taken 59 lives. "The other thing is to teach the population that we should not be alarmed if we have the flu, because it is normal at this time of the year with the rains and the changes of temperatures," he told Diario Libre reporters.
Country runs out of swine flu vaccine
According to the deputy Minister of Collective Health, Rafael Schiffino, supplies of the vaccination against the AH1N1 flu virus, also known as swine flu, have run out in the Dominican Republic, just as the virus was started to reach the northern provinces.
He said that Ministry of Public Health workers are checking many people thought to be carriers of the virus, mostly living in the Central Cibao area. Schiffino went on to say that the reserve supply of the vaccines will run out in July, and that the country is waiting for another delivery, expected in September.
He said that they have asked for 200,000 vaccines, but so have other countries in Latin America due to demand, so the 50,000 vaccines left in reserve are only to be used on high-risk people until more arrive. Pregnant women, children under the age of five and adults over 65 are defined as high-risk.
He said that so far five people have died, including two pregnant women, one aged 23 in the San Lorenzo de Los Mina hospital and the other only 13 years old who lived in Cotui. The other three who died were adults living in Puerto Plata, La Vega and Elias Pina.
Schiffino said that this virus has mutated and incubated in the towns in central Cibao, but when they find what they think is a source, Public Health are quarantining the area and carrying out the necessary procedures in these cases.
He reminded people that the symptoms of the virus included flu-like symptoms with fever, headache and an aching body, and anyone with those symptoms should not go to work, to meetings nor mix with others as just coughing could spread it.
Se agotar?n vacunas* contra gripe AH1N1 - ElNacional.com.do
No house-to-house vaccination program
The Minister of Public Health, Freddy Hidalgo has announced there is no national program of vaccination against the AH1N1 virus, in response to reports that people are going house-to-house, posing as Public Health Ministry employees to gain access to people's homes and rob them.
Hidalgo urged the public to be on their guard, and not to allow these robbers to enter their property.
Alertan sobre delincuentes que se hacen pasar por vacunadores - listindiario.com
Watch out for flu symptoms
The Ministry of Public Health suspects that flu virus AH1N1 is back in the Dominican Republic. One confirmed victim has been reported for the National District. The ministry says that anyone suffering flu symptoms should be careful to follow the evolution and seek medical help. The deceased was a pregnant woman who died at a private hospital in Santo Domingo. Swine flu symptoms in humans are similar to most influenza infections: fever (100 F or higher), cough, nasal secretions, fatigue, and headache. The virus is easily transmitted among humans.