The Ministry of Health (MoH) and Environment is informing the public that it is awaiting confirmation of a preliminary test which indicates that one case of the unusual virus, Hanta Virus, has been detected in Dominica.
The Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that confirmatory tests are being done at the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta.
An epidemiological investigation has not found further cases on the island.
According to the MoH, the disease does not spread from person to person and mode of transmission of the virus is similar to leptospirosis.
“Rodent infestation in and around the home remains the primary risk for the virus exposure,” the statement said. “The rodents shed the virus in their urine, droppings and saliva. Any activity that puts you in contact with rodents dropping, urine, saliva, or nesting material can place you at risk for infection. The virus can spread through inhalation of aerosolized particles of rat dropping.”
The MoH is advising all Dominicans to practice good hygiene and report rat infestation to the Environmental Health Office.
“The ministry of health has been very active in educating the general public of prevention and precautionary measures of leptospirosis as well as implementing rodent control measures since the passing of Hurricane Maria,” the statement said. “The ministry wishes to assure that all necessary steps are undertaken to detect a case early, to manage a case adequately, to prevent the spread of disease effectively and minimizing rodent infestation.”
I heard about it through a Toronto Media. It was stated one person died.
After such a hurricane, it is not surprising. Dominicans take precaution.
Solid waste havent pass in Cochrane since before Hurricane Maria. We have rats playing hoop, ring a ring a rosie and having breakfazt lunch and dinner there. We separate our garbage but thers is no pick up of garbage. At least we do our part. Some of us cant burn the garbage cuz the smoke affects us. What else can we do?
Any means of burying the garbage?
Some two weeks ago I saw Breaking news from out of Madagascar in Africa on some rat spreading virus..As a matter of fact they did not even have a name for it…it was just called a plague,,and was killing people as fast as getting in contact with the rat urine…From what the officials over there was saying is that,,,the disease was being spread around by the flees from the rats,,,something I never knew,,rats have flees…As to how the flees are transmitting the virus,,they did not say…What I suspect is you get bitten by the flees and it’s a rap…
A very tough situation…Get the rats out…
Lets try our best to wash everything we buy in supermarkets they walk and let off their droppings everywhere. And cleaners always use gloves whilst cleaning shelves. I am a cleaner and i always use gloves because dropping are all on can foods. Biscuits etc. But i cannot wipe every item. So when u purchase always was your stuff. Before lyou eat your snacks wash the plastics. Rat pees on everything you never know. Business owners please put poison and trapss for them.
Keep an eye on people that do cheap jobs and empty sewage in the revers at night
And some people have so much malice they are putting poison for the cats instead of the rats.
Would that be malice or ignorance?
The hanta virus originated from the southwestern part of the United States in 1993
The truth is not being told. More than one person has died of this after the Hurricane. Tell the truth Mnistry on Health. Smh. And tell the public the signs of this disease. I know one of them the eyes gets yelllow
Presently a manager from a well Known hotel is out of state on medicals so health dept need to check their place. It could b a customer.
I must admit that there is a RAT nest in the financial center that has transmitted some deadly viruses over Dominica and I hope we are not too late to deal with it. I cannot understand why we allowed those Rats to nest in the financial center for so long spreading an unusual virus though out the island. But it is good the ministry of health has taken steps to warn the people about this new disease, though I wish they and all other ministries had informed the nation about those Rats that nesting in the financial center
It was just a matter of time before this thing start to happen, trash is not being pick up it is pilling up on the side of the roads, I saw prince Charles and the P.M drove right by a huge rubbish dump in pte Michel where there was rubbish spewing all on the road,it looked like the rubbish had not been pick up since the storm, that kind of thing breed disease and rat infestation I know SKERRO saw it , where is DR DAROU? that kind of thing is happening all over the Island, do we have to wait any longer, ? if Maria did not kill us the politicians will, people before opening those cans of foods please wash the tops with hot water, P.M.H. cannot safe you and your kids.
About the cans, it is important to wash the tops prior to opening them. These days, I do not per se purchase cans of food, beans, etc. because I like homemade. However, I purchase cans of evaporated milk, coconut water and a few others if need be. I always wash the tops and wipe them prior to opening them.
Especially since Hurricane Maria, if nationals have water around, they should wash the cans. Dirt/germs collect on them.
We need to be pro-active after a hurricane. Mosquito nets, system of curtailing mosquito borne diseases. What about taking of all the pit latrines and house which are breeding grounds for mosquito.
I also think that communities that have their own relief should distribute things to their communities. They should have people going around to check uncovered houses.
Inside the pit latrines should be sprayed with insecticide and whatever appropriate spray.
I recall prior to Hurricane Maria, the PM had announced the pit latrines would be replaced. Some Dominicans, no doubt, non DLP supporters had much to say against it. Their negativity caused much to happen to Dominica.
Hmph! And solid waste not picking up garbage…bel bef
I hope safety checks were able to take place when the relief was coming in to the country. Rodents can easily hide on those ships and badges
Dominica has rats, I’ve seen plenty, so if you are accusing other people of bringing in rats.
The hanta virus is not typically found in the Caribbean region. Therefore it is safe to assume that rats carrying the virus were brought into the country, albeit unintentionally.
We had rats but we did not have this virus. It is not far-fetched to think that the relief and the virus are related.
We are thankful for the relief and are not accusing anyone of deliberately sending us a virus.
I don’t think anyone is pointing a bad finger here. The practical scenario is that one or two rodents can end up in a relief container and spread a virus in another territory.
These are risks that are difficult to manage in an emergency response and informing the public as the ministry is doing makes a positive difference
@Visceraangel, look out for those relief items…. rats travel in clothes and mattresses and other places they can hide in.
Oh no. Let us pray for safety and health.