Sharp Rise in Influenza A and COVID-19 Cases; One Flu Death Recorded
By Admin. Updated 4:10 p.m., Monday, November 2, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
Health officials in St Vincent and the Grenadines are urging residents to take extra care as laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza A and COVID-19 climbed steeply over the past two months.
In a press release issued on Monday, 2 November, the Ministry of Health, Wellness, Environmental Health and Energy said its surveillance had picked up a clear increase in both infections during September and October.
The jump in influenza A is especially striking. Only one case was confirmed in August. That figure rose to 47 in September and then to 86 in October, almost double the previous month. COVID-19 cases also went up, though less dramatically, moving from four in August to 16 in September and 19 in October.
Taken together, the last two months account for most of this year’s cases. Of the 149 influenza A cases recorded between January and October 2026, 133, or 89.3 per cent, were confirmed in September and October. For COVID-19, 35 of the 43 cases for the year (81.4 per cent) came during the same two months.
The Ministry confirmed that one person has died from influenza A so far. The patient had a history of diabetes and hypertension (high blood pressure), was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and later died.
Young children have been hit hard by the flu. Children under 10 made up 43 of the influenza A cases, or 28.9 per cent. Of these, 28 were aged four and under, while 15 were between five and nine.
The COVID-19 picture is spread more widely across age groups. Five cases (11.6 per cent) were among children aged four and under. No single age group recorded more than six cases, the highest number being among people aged 45 to 49, who made up 14 per cent of the total.
The Ministry noted that the two illnesses share many of the same symptoms, including fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches and tiredness. Because of this, it said, symptoms alone cannot reliably tell one from the other.
Residents are being asked to stay at home when they feel unwell, and parents are asked to keep sick children home from school and daycare. The Ministry also recommends wearing a well-fitting mask when caring for someone with respiratory symptoms, or when you have symptoms yourself and must be around other people, including when going to seek medical care.
Regular handwashing with soap and water, or the use of an alcohol-based hand sanitiser, is also encouraged. People should cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or a bent elbow, throw away used tissues promptly and clean their hands afterwards. Where it is safe and practical, opening windows and doors to let in fresh air can also help.
Older adults, pregnant women, people living with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, and those with weakened immune systems are advised to seek medical advice early if symptoms develop. The same applies to young children, particularly those under five, who face a higher risk of complications from influenza.
The Ministry stressed that anyone experiencing difficulty breathing, persistent chest pain, confusion or severe dehydration should get urgent medical attention. Children who are unusually drowsy, unable to drink or struggling to breathe also need to be assessed urgently.
Families, schools and workplaces are being encouraged to support these measures, and members of the public are asked to follow the Ministry’s official platforms for further updates.
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