Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, October 23, 2015. For the year to date, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) received 284 samples for influenza virus testing. Forty-seven (47) tested positive of which 14 were typed as Influenza A H1N1.
The table below shows number of samples received and tested positive for Influenza A for 2013 -2014.
| | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
| No. samples received for Influenza Virus | 924 | 401 | 284 |
| No. samples Influenza A positive (%) | 208(22%) | 82(20%) | 47(16%) |
CARPHA would like to advise members of the public to practice respiratory hygiene measures in order to reduce the risk of transmission of influenza and other respiratory viruses. You should cover your mouth with a tissue or handkerchief, or use your elbow, if sneezing or coughing. You should safely dispose of used tissues; wash your hands with soap and water after coughing and sneezing and before and after meal preparation, eating and use of the toilets. Alternatively, you may use an alcohol based hand-sanitizer. Link to influenza factsheet here.