Dominica confirms its first case of Chikungunya virus

Chief Medical Officer, Dr David Johnson
Chief Medical Officer, Dr David Johnson

Dominica has confirmed its first case of the chikungunya virus but health officials say there is no cause for alarm. Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito and causes a dengue-like sickness.

The infected person, who has now recovered, comes from Good Hope, on Dominica’s east coast, and had recently been to St Martin where the first ever case in the Caribbean was identified in December.

Chief Medical Officer of Dominica Dr David Johnson said, “We can confirm that we have the first local case of chikungunya in Dominica,” he said. However, he added that “there is no need for any alarm at this time.” He described this as an “imported case”. But he said, “Very importantly for us we want to establish if there are any other cases in Dominica.”

The signs and symptoms, which appear between four to seven days of the bite of an infected mosquito, include: sudden high fever, severe joint pains, muscle pain, headache and sometimes a rash. Most of the symptoms last for a few days – but sometimes longer ; hospitalization is rare.

According to Dr Johnson, the Dominican victim began showing signs of the sickness in mid-December, and confirmation was given last night to the authorities by the Caribbean Public Health Agency. An emergency meeting was then convened for stakeholders to examine their rapid and coordinated response. This involves the clinical management of persons with the signs and symptoms of the virus, the vector control, laboratory support, response, surveillance of the disease and public education.

Chief Environmental Health Officer, Anthony Scotland (center). To his right is Dr. Paul Ricketts
Chief Environmental Health Officer, Anthony Scotland (center). To the right is Dr. Paul Ricketts

Chief Environmental Health Officer Anthony Scotland said, “With this case showing up on our doorstep, we have already put measures in place in the community of Good Hope where it has occurred. A team is on the ground from the National Pest and Termite Company working alongside the environmental health department and health team members in doing some larva surveys in the community.”

He said all the houses are expected to be inspected for mosquito breeding and treated around the island. He said that there out of every 100 houses inspected 12 are a breeding ground for mosquitoes. This is too high.

Environment health is also continuing with its efforts at removing abandoned white goods  to help eradicate or minimize the breeding of mosquitoes. Everyone is urged to keep their surroundings clean and mosquito free. 

The first recorded case in the Caribbean of the chikungunya virus occurred on the French side of St Martin, where 10 cases were confirmed by late last month. Three cases followed in the British Virgin Islands.

One of the symptons of Chikungunya can sometimes be a rash
One of the symptons of Chikungunya can sometimes be a rash

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11 Comments

  1. an/pm
    January 19, 2014

    not the p child mother na people that have it? :) :) :) :) :) always wanna ESCAPE

  2. born Dominican
    January 18, 2014

    Thanks god st Martin had that first and now three cases in the b .v.i.if not those stupids of dominica would say skerittel lol .this comment comes from b fontaine of tortola and also who have it in dominica came from St . Martin with it .dominicans think before putting out foolish comments about your p.m like it or not he is our p.m and will remain.

  3. realist..
    January 18, 2014

    I know some people in St. Martin who was infected with this disease. when asked what’s its like, they said try not to get is the best advise they can give. all your bones and joint hurts like hell. they had to creep like babies just to move across the floor. and can’t do anything for themselves, where it would normally take them 10 seconds to reach took more than 10 min. let’s just hope as said. it’s not a cause for alarm in Dominica.

  4. hm!
    January 17, 2014

    in lab they create it…. :-|

  5. Natiwel
    January 17, 2014

    Way papa! Another virus to contend with.

  6. Daniel Jordan, PhD
    January 17, 2014

    Airlines are the prime route for spreading these diseases. Until recently, the airlines had been spraying the inside of the cabins after the doors closed. On the most recent Seaborne flight we took, they did not do this. Of course I do not like bug sprays. However, I’d rather take whatever risks they present over the risks of this disease, and Dengue, continuing to spread across entire countries. We all need to request that the airlines engage in prevention.

  7. optimist
    January 17, 2014

    if it was a beff, comments would be flowing in

  8. Mary Black
    January 17, 2014

    Dominica seems to be getting a lot of mosquito infected deases second on now. What elese? This person family and anyone which he or she has been in contact with need to be treated.
    Why would the chief medical officer say there is no cause for alarm is he waiting for at least 20 people to be infected?

  9. JB CHARLES
    January 17, 2014

    My MY get a good grip on this one we cannot afford to let it go rampant my people start getting rid of all these breeding grounds for you and you community safty.

  10. first lady
    January 17, 2014

    What measures are being taken to protect the public to stop the spread of this disease are people who have this disease beind quorenting or place in isolation room when hospitalize is there an infectious disease doctor to help deal with this issue or is simple being handle by environmental dept. My question to ministry of health.

  11. Joejoe
    January 17, 2014

    We are in a war against tiny insects and almost helpless but we must not give up.

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