THE health sector in Tobago has stepped up it protocol with respect to dealing with the Influenza A/H1N1 virus in light of recent deaths in the country. And THA Health Secretary Albert Pilgrim yesterday gave his commitment to the continuous strengthening of the capacity to deal with associated complications with the virus.

’There is no doubt that the second wave that we have been cautioning you about is now in our country,’ Pilgrim said.

He said the Division of Health and Social Services recently held a meeting where the lessons learnt from the ’first wave’ of the virus-the local, national and international impact-were discussed and recommendations on resource re-allocations were made.

’It was decided that as part of continual re-assessments and preparation during this ’second wave’, there must be re-allocation of the resources (both human and otherwise) to areas that would be of more impact at this time,’ he said.

Pilgrim said they have also been reviewing and updating programmes and protocols for prevention, surveillance, screening, diagnoses, management and treatment of the swine flu.

He said given the fact that not everyone would be tested, reports to citizens from the division must change.

’Let me give my assurance that you, the members of the public, would continue to receive numerous updates on how to take care of yourself in the areas of prevention and care, and, if necessary, when it would be important to seek further medical attention. The technical team has recommended that this is the area that needs significant focus at this time,’ he said.

He said given the fact that the island is exposed to global travellers and it was now the ’flu season’, the risk of swine flu reaching persons in high risk categories was greater. He said this therefore poses an enormous challenge to resource levels locally and even worldwide, in addressing the situation.