Barbados suspects H1N1 case on board cruise ship

A suspected case of the deadly influenza H1N1 virus onboard a cruise ship docked at the Bridgetown Port in Barbados has caused some concern among health officials.



Teams of medical personnel were seen at the country’s main seaport in response to what they felt was a potential threat.



Health Minister Donville Inniss says the alarm was raised when the captain of the vessel reported that a crew member had been displaying symptoms associated with the virus.



The Health Ministry says it has already sent a sample to the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC) in Trinidad and Tobago for further testing.



International Transport Minister George Hutson says a sense of normality has been restored to the facility and that similar measures were implemented at the Grantley Adams International Airport, where many passengers who disembarked the vessel were due to make connecting flights.



No CARICOM country has reported a confirmed H1N1 case, although several governments have sent samples to CAREC for testing.



However, Spanish-speaking Cuba has reported that a Mexican student who went to the island to study was its first case.