Confirmed Zika cases rise to 18; no need to panic authorities insist

Rash is a symptom of the Zika virus
Rash is a symptom of the Zika virus

The number of confirmed cases of the mosquito-borne disease Zika have risen to 18 in Dominica however, officials continue to insist that there is no need for alarm.

Chief Medical Officer, Dr. David Johnson said none of the individuals has suffered complications, none has been hospitalized and all have recuperated well.

“The total cumulative number of cases we have now that we have received from CARPHA (Caribbean Public Health Agency based in Trinidad) from since we have been sending samples is 18,” he said.

Despite this, Johnson said there is no need for alarm.

“We want to encourage persons to really stay calm, there is no need for alarm at this stage,” he noted.

He stated that some of the symptoms present were rash, fever, joint pains, muscle pains and some case of conjunctivitis.

“We suspected they had the Zika virus and therefore, we took samples from them and we sent the samples to CARPHA for confirmation,” he stated. “But in most times by the time we get back the results, those persons are, for all intents and purposes, healthy individuals. They go around their business the rash, the conjunctivitis, the joint pain, the muscle pains have all been resolved.”

Johnson pointed out the cases are only laboratory-tested positive ones and not about “the number of persons who are currently sick, lying down on a bed in hospital or at their homes with Zika virus.”

“We test a number of samples, we get back a number of results, we are talking about the number of positive laboratory results we get back but we are not necessarily saying that all of those individuals are sick somewhere,” he explained.

He pointed out that although there is no need for alarm, the battle against the disease should be ongoing.

“The clean-up campaign must continue, the government has expended a significant amount of resources, I mean significant amount of resources in terms of that National Clean Up Campaign that took place on the 18th of February,” he stated. “But clean-up campaign is not a one-time event, it has to be sustained. So the community, the community leaders, the village councils, in fact, everybody should continue the clean-up campaign or clean up the community.”

He said everyone has a responsibility to organize clean-up in their communities and not necessarily wait on the government to reduce the breeding sites of mosquitos.

“The Ministry of Health cannot do it all,” Dr. Johnson said.

Dominica confirmed its first case of the disease on March 15, 2016 and health officials said there was no need for alarm.

Later in March, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in the United States added Dominica to the list of countries that some US citizens were advised to avoid amid the spread of the virus.

On March 30, Tourism Minister, Robert Tonge has said that he was “not very concerned” about the effect of such an advisory on the local tourism industry.

Four more cases were confirmed on April 15 and officials continue to say there was no need for alarm.

On April 16, the United Workers Party (UWP) called on the government to form a task force, consisting of different people of different political persuasion, to combat the disease.

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42 Comments

  1. Yes
    April 22, 2016

    In which part of Dominica are the people being infected?
    Dose anyone know any of these people? How comes we haven’t herd from them?

    • Zika Vaccine
      April 22, 2016

      Total and absolute propaganda to instill fear and to get everyone craving for a vaccine that is sure to really screw them up.

      Our leader have no shame whatsoever. None!!

  2. young man
    April 22, 2016

    Please disclose where these cases are coming from, please it’s only to the public’s well being, so that imperative measures can be taken more seriously and immediately! :-x

  3. Champion
    April 22, 2016

    No need to panic, no need to be alarmed…and after each report the number keeps going up…

    • i am dominica...are you?
      April 22, 2016

      the health officials are really naive. it is a call for concern. first report was one then five now eighteen and they continue to say no need for panic.

  4. Hmm
    April 21, 2016

    Ahhh, panic perhaps begins at 19?

  5. Huh!
    April 21, 2016

    Dr. Johnson will tell us when we can begin to panic.

  6. Floridian Diaspora
    April 21, 2016

    I wonder how well prepared is the Princess Margaret Hospital for an serious outburst of this Zika thing bearing in mind that unlike the ministers, the locals don’t have access to the treasury and passport money funding therefore making it impossible for them to fly overseas to seek medical attention like their ministerial counterparts????

  7. marie-claire
    April 21, 2016

    This is depressing the sad thing is these minsters that are not concern have the powers to go else where meaning out of state to seek advance medical treatment if needed and the poor Dominican that cant even get a visa to go to US or Canada have to stay and suffer due to these so call people in control poor handling. SMFP :-x :-x :-x :-x :-x

  8. L'original anonymous
    April 21, 2016

    If only the ministry of health had an efficient permanent secretary like before

  9. Educate yourself on Zika
    April 21, 2016

    Brazil confirms Zika is a WHO/ US scam!

    “.. A report from Latin American doctors questions the true cause of microcephaly blamed on the Zika virus. They say that the likely cause is SumiLarv, manufactured by Sumitomo Chemical, a Japanese subsidiary of Monsanto as a more probable cause of birth defects. Despite this, the World Health Organization (WHO) reveals plans for a ‘Zika Vaccine.” The WHO in promoting inflated facts state that the virus has infected “29 nations in Latin America and the Caribbean. Three have been confirmed killed and 4 million people are infected with the virus.” These ‘facts’ are lies and go against a report by the Argentine group Physicians in the Crop-Sprayed Towns (PCST), theorizing that pyriproxyfen—a larvicide added to drinking water to stop the development of mosquito larvae – this has caused the birth defects, not ‘zika’: http://beforeitsnews.com/alternative/2016/02/who-plans-zika-vaccine-as-brazilian-doctors-blame-monsantos-pesticides-3302680.html

  10. concern
    April 21, 2016

    what is this i hearing . dominica was the cleanest country doh it poor so where this fools come from .they better go back .you all think is not somebody that hate and bring that here illegal .

  11. Zuma
    April 21, 2016

    What is the health minister doing about this.. Get up all u lazy behind and do research and inform the public about the seriousness of this. The Government of Dominica needs to take care of its citizens. You all actions have shown u all don’t care…cause you all can take a heicopter and run away at the time of any crisis leaving the poor and sick behind…….

  12. yup
    April 21, 2016

    at least the areas where the people are from and frequent should be given to the public. therefor more focus and caution (to not get bitten) can be put into these areas. the health officials should be tracking that kind of info and informing the public. plus “don’t panic” please no one is panicking the only panic it will have is we will be extra cautious and go to extra extents to eradicate these mosquito’s as much as possible.

  13. Yes Fada!
    April 21, 2016

    Yessssss Fada, the confirmed number will reach 200 and our ministers and public health authorities will keep saying “do not be alarmed”. Weh weh weh! Come Dominicans, since they just there trying to calm us down, let’s use our collective energies n bun out these mosquitoes from our island. Come on, let’s clean up a little more than our yards. And not just a one time thing…les keep doing it till we rid all them dirty mosquitoes.

  14. Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
    April 21, 2016

    It is reported there are about 200 cases of Zika infection in the United States, and there are fears the number will continue to grow.

    So far, all of the cases in the U.S., can be traced to travel abroad in areas where the virus is spreading, mostly in Latin America. In a handful of cases, patients contracted the virus through sex with someone who was infected abroad.

    My point here is this; if the United States of America with millions more people than Dominica has reported only two (200) hundred case, shouldn’t one be very concerned, and alarmed that there are eighteen (18) cases of the disease in Dominica, with a population of less than seventy thousand people?

    The stupidity of this so called Dominica doctor of health minister surpasses that of an idiot, how long will it take for this disease to become an epidemic on a three hundred five square mile island with a handful of people?

    • ANON
      April 21, 2016

      STFU

    • Educate yourself on Zika
      April 21, 2016

      Stop buying into the ‘terror’ scam and educate yourself: http://beforeitsnews.com/alternative/2016/02/who-plans-zika-vaccine-as-brazilian-doctors-blame-monsantos-pesticides-3302680.html

      Zika is all about getting us to use the very substances (fogging agents, pesticides in water, insect repellants) that cause the symptoms attributed to Zika and then blame ‘Zika’ as the cause and in the meantime, prohibit us from reproducing and continue to scare the living bejeez out of us. This works well for these evil basket cases. May they rot in hell for perpetrating this scam.

      Remember folks, the USA has the patents on Ebola, HIV and host of other infectious diseases. Secondly, did you know that there is no universal test for HIV infection? You can test in South Africa, Canada, Malaysia, USA and have TOTALLY different results??

      Smell a rat?? Keep on smelling and wake the flock up!!

      • Zika Vaccine
        April 22, 2016

        Six dislikes so far and not only one like for someone who is trying to open your eyes. You guys are totally screwed.

        Remember folks, by way of comparison, flu is now the biggest killer of people in 22 states in the USA. Why isn’t the flu vaccine working and why this increase in deaths since the vaccine became the medicine of choice for flu prevention in the US?

        Good luck with the Zika vaccine that is being pushed towards you all.

  15. Younglady
    April 21, 2016

    If only 1 in 5 infected persons show signs then it follows that the true number of cases may be closer to 100…be helpful to point out what areas are affected so persons in these and surrounding areas may be more vigilant

  16. peaceful
    April 21, 2016

    people the zika is like dengue and chickengunia, just with more symptoms. No need for the panic, let us just continue to take precautionary measures. Can the ministry of health arrange to get an immediate supply of repellant to be distributed at school, work places and the health centres. I remember at one dengue outbreak my family sent me repellant etc for safety and the customs officer at the General post office charged me almost three times the cost. so the authorities can assist by institute immediate duty free and also free distribution

    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
      April 21, 2016

      If you were not an idiot, you would have known that the Zika virus is worst than dengue, and the Chickamauga viruses because neither of the two causes children to be born with deformities, although the two have killed people in the past.

      How would you like your child to be born with a deformed head, perhaps in the shape to that of a rat. You see how stupid some of you Dominicans are, you talk as if you are an authority on the subject, yet you are only a nobody, just a another babbling dunce!

      • More Intelligent
        April 22, 2016

        Shameful sad response from someone who plays educated. Really no need to bring out your demons in this crude unmannerly, cawat response. And by the way, the symptoms are similar. In pregnant people then it becomes more dangerous. So for most no need for alarm. ‘peaceful’ is much brighter than you.

      • Grow up Dr. Dods
        April 24, 2016

        You Dr. Dods already have a deformed head for pushing this rubbish. Research and check out your facts carefully before trying to convince anyone that you ‘have the answer’

        In the words of the late Bob Marley in ‘No Woman No Cry’ – “…everyone have the answer…everyone have the answer… .

  17. A Doubting Thomas In Solidarity
    April 21, 2016

    The last sentence seems meaningless and out of place in an otherwise informative article, unless for political reasons, which I fail to see the reasoning.

    If the last sentence had said something to the effect that “the UWP Management is calling on all its supporters to adhere to the numerous safety and precautionary messages the Government, Medical and Environment Dominica have been broadcasting to all and sundry” would have served better; because we know, the Government need everyone to disseminate and take heed of the cautionary measures in the messages.

    If we as individuals are not following the advice given us by these groups for our own health and well being and those of our family and neighbours we will continue to become sick and so will those we come in contact with,

    Only if we come together as a people and control our own environment do we have a chance of getting rid of the mosquito causing virus. We are in this together. Let us all realize that.

    • ANON
      April 21, 2016

      Because my friend the media and the people have a disease…it is called politics!!!

  18. dissident
    April 21, 2016

    everytime you say there is no need for alarm new cases of zika seep surfacing!!!
    are you guys sick?
    I’s not like you have it under control…………….CASES INCREASING FOR GOODNESS SAKE!!!!!!!!

    I myself been following zika from my sources>
    I don’t depend on my government to keep me safe from zika.
    De 1st case was on march 15…….we now middle of april…..exactly 1 month later we have 18 cases!!!!!!!!!

    zika cases increasing steadily and you say there is no cause for alarm.
    If it was really under control we wouldn’t have a steady increase in cases.

  19. Dominican passports
    April 21, 2016

    Okay I’ll start to panic when it reaches 1,000 *Sips Tea* :roll:

  20. De Voice
    April 21, 2016

    The number of people infected with the zika virus has increased markedly over that past weeks. I am certain that the numbers will increase since there are unconfirmed cases. This biological warfare continues to affect the human resources of our nation. Not only do our health officials battle with viruses such as zika, chikungunya , dengue but there is the alarming increase in the sexually transmitted diseases, cancer, and diabetes. This is a cause for concern and should not be treated with lightly.

  21. Shortie
    April 21, 2016

    I HAVE A 3YR OLD IN SCHOOL…………………….. PANIC!!!!!!

  22. concern
    April 21, 2016

    There was one case.u all said no need for panic.then four more case ,you continue saying no need for panic.now there is 18 more cases you still saying no need for panic.how no need for panic when it increases everytime

  23. I've Barely recovered
    April 21, 2016

    There is no need for alarm this guy says. Some people are barely recovering from the last mosquitoe born disease and now Zika is here. Telling people to remain calm when we already know that the last disease outbreak was poorly handled is like telling someone to remain calm when they are being tied over a huge fire,knowing what that for does.

    More suffering for Dominicans,. Economically and now Medically. This reminds me of the story of the Pharaoh,when Good sent the different plagues upon the land in order to teach Pharaoh. Maybe,just mauve weer have got a Pharaoh amongst our midst which needs ridding

  24. DNO Is Greal
    April 21, 2016

    The great deception continues relentlessly.
    Be vigilant and protect yourself and your families from this evil scam.

    • Nonsense
      April 21, 2016

      Sad thing is they all think its a ‘Conspiracy’ and refuse to see the facts laying in front of them!

      • Zika Vaccine
        April 22, 2016

        Agree, Zika is a perfect scam for weakminded Dominicans. They will buy into the vaccine that’s for sure :)

  25. Roots
    April 21, 2016

    So, when should we be alarmed, when our heads start to shrink?

    • smdh
      April 21, 2016

      do you not read or listen? dont you know that the small heads only occurs in newborns from pregnant mothers who possibly contracted the virus or consumed water that contained the larvacide used to mosquito treatment against dengue chikungunya etc?? You as a grown person or even a toddler cannot have your heads shrunk from contracting it. only newborns. Annoys me when grown people just speak nonsense in public. may be intended as a joke but it was not funny.

      • learn to read between the lines
        April 21, 2016

        Smdh: you obviously missed the person’s point.

      • Too bad
        April 21, 2016

        I think Roots was being sarcastic!

      • Yes Fada!
        April 21, 2016

        You clearly need a chill pill bredda!

      • Nonsense
        April 21, 2016

        Damnnnnn……missed the point much!?!?!

    • Educate yourself on Zika
      April 21, 2016

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