by STAFF WRITER
Aedes aegypti mosquito
GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Jan. 14, CMC – The first case of the Zika Virus has been detected in Guyana.
This was disclosed by Minister of Public Health Dr. George Norton on Thursday as he addressed the National Assembly.
Norton says the virus was detected by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in Trinidad and Tobago.
He said CARPHA detected the presence of the virus in a sample of blood taken from a 27-year-old female.
On Thursday, Haiti also confirmed the presence of the virus.
The local transmission of Zika virus has now been found in 15 Western Hemisphere countries and territories, including Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guyana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Paraguay, Suriname and Venezuela.
The Aedes aegypti mosquito that transports the virus is found throughout the region, except in continental Chile and Canada, PAHO said it is likely that outbreaks will occur in other countries that have not yet reported any cases.
Zika is a mosquito-borne viral disease , the symptoms include consisting of mild fever, rash, headaches, and non-purulent conjunctivitis, occurring about three to 12 days after the mosquito’s bite. Its clinical manifestation is often similar to dengue, also a mosquito-borne illness.
The Health Minister also disclosed that there has been a four-fold increase of gastroenteritis in the community of Baramita to the northwest of here.
The outbreak has so far led to one death. Last week the Government Information Service (GINA) on Friday reported that some residents are reportedly reluctant to use treated water or take the full course of medication.
Then also, in Haiti, on Jan. 14, The Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) has confirmed the first case of the Zika Virus.
On Thursday, PAHO’s Communicable Disease and Health Analysis director Marcos Espinal who made the announcement also warned that there are many people who will contract zika without knowing it.
He also said there is no need for alarm. “The zika virus isn’t a cause to go crazy. The diagnosis is for monitoring. The main thing here is to control the vectors (mosquitoes). The virus shouldn’t cause alarm among the population.”
He said the main thing in this situation is to focus on prevention and education, trash collection and control the vectors in the water.
Espinal told a conference in the neighbouring Dominican Republic that the disease can be confusing and recommends treating the disease like dengue, “because that one kills.”
Last month, health officials here set up an early warning system for detection in time of potential suspected cases of the virus.
The local transmission of Zika virus has been found in 14 Western Hemisphere countries and territories, including Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Paraguay, Suriname and Venezuela.
Since the Aedes aegypti mosquito that transports the virus is found throughout the region, except in continental Chile and Canada, PAHO said it is likely that outbreaks will occur in other countries that have not yet reported any cases.
