What matters is the science…not uninformed speculation by fear mongers. Even the MIN of HEALTH failed to tell people to WASH HANDS WITH ANTIBACTERIAL SOAP, instead saying pay attention to hygenic measures. Maintain good hygiene….spell it out slow & simple for all to understand. Hand washing without antibacterial soap is like not washing your hands at all.

I will contact the students to find out if they were examined by the ministry of health, swabs taken?? temperatures monitored?? given Tamiflu or Relenza?? Being a critical care professional and now a local Grenadian….I know full well what is the norm here. I have seen so many times the govt congratulate themselves for ‘having all the right protocols in place’ and fail to take any meaningful action.

THIS IS THE SAD REALITY for Grenadians.

@Megs: Welcome to the blog! While I understand your position, I’m not sure that bringing the kids home is the answer. As YingYang notes, if they are indeed infected, all their return would accomplish would be the spread the illness to Grenada. The last thing Grenada needs is a public health crisis or panic.

@YingYang: Thank you, my dear, as always, for bringing your local insight and level-headed wisdom to my blog.

From what I hear via the rumour mill, two of the students returned home already, and a group are returning today. Purportedly they are to be “isolated”, along with their families, in their homes. Which of course means it’s just a matter of hours before we see them whining up in Karma! *scowl* Let me tell you, if this flu breaks out in Grenada, I will marvel at the irony of these same Grenadians who are now saying “bring them home” attempting to tar and feather the same students for making them sick.

Since when does a home country tell their citizens NOT to come home. Cough up the truth….they cannot afford the airfare to get 60 people home. Call Castro & beg for help ASAP before the WHO raises threat level from “impending pandemic” to full on global crisis. This IS going to happen. The entire Trinidad football team returned home from Mexico after the outbreak, nobody suggested they stay in Mexico!! OH YES I FORGOT…..they probably had return tickets.

OFFER these students REAL support…get online temperature & symptom checklist charts going NOW for each & every student. Because they are not all located in one region of Mexico this is the least the Ministry of Health should be doing. AND HAVE A SCHEDULE OF ACTIONS THE STUDENTS CAN TRUST **WILL BE EXECUTED** AS THE WHAT IF’S START TO UNFOLD. SOME REAL SUPPORT IS THE ETHICAL THING TO DO!!!

The theme of the Ministry news conference today was “DON’T LOOK TO US FOR HELP” Deal with it in Mexico thru the “PROPER MEDICAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE LOCALLY IN MEXICO” Please……have you ever been to Mexico and tried to solve a problem??

TWO THINGS…the students have given the gov’t their emergency phone number….has the Minister of Health / Chief Medical Officer given the students HER emergency contact number?? I highly doubt it.

Secondly even if the anti viral drugs are available here in Grenada (which are only effective if given early) According to today’s news ‘anti-viral meds are & will be made available to the students should the need arise”. AGAIN???? what does that mean… how are swabs going to to reach the Grenada / Cariad labs??? How are the anti virals going to reach the students in Mexico??? via FEDEX??? So much for treating very early in the disease process!!!

All of this reassurance is just another example of LIP SERVICE…Mark these words the once healthy Canadian student who was on a respirator has now DIED. Does Grenada even have intensive care with life support & respirators?? Stop the bull & help these kids!

ruthibelle´s last blog post..Dying Friendship