Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Environment, Helen Royer, has dubbed the Zika virus a “regional and international public health issue,” and has said its entry into Dominica is inevitable.
She stated there is no question that the virus will reach Dominica “sooner rather than later” due to tourism and the presence in the country of the mosquito that transmits the disease, the Aedes Egypti.
“The vector of the virus is the Aedes Egypti mosquito, which is present throughout Dominica. This fact, coupled with the travel links with countries already affected, make it inevitable that ZIK-V will reach Dominican shores sooner rather than later,” she stated.
Since the first reported case of Zika in Brazil, in April 2015, the virus has since run rampant throughout the Caribbean and Latin America. According to a recent epidemiological update from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), 24 countries, to date, have confirmed local Zika virus transmission. Among these countries are Dominica’s neighbouring islands, Martinique and Guadeloupe.
With the entry of the disease into Dominica looming, Royer sad the Ministry of Health is prepared to deliver the “best response” when it does arrive.
“Despite our best efforts, however, we cannot prevent the arrival of ZIK-V in Dominica, but we will be prepared, and remain vigilant and proactive to mount our best response when it gets here,” she said. “The Government has given its commitment to the Ministry of Health for the effective implementation of the Zika plan, and as with the case of Chikungunya, we are confident that with your support, we will succeed.”
The Ministry of Health has urged the public to take a “community approach,” to reduce mosquito breeding sites in their surroundings. Further emphasis has been placed on personal protection through the use of bed nets, protective clothing, insecticides, and insect repellents.
Recently, Chief Medical Officer, Dr. David Johnson, described the Zika Virus as a ‘threat’ to Dominica.
On Monday, the World Health Organization said the virus poses a global emergency.
WHO the hell names these mosquitoes and the diseases…….”Aeades Egypti”……. let me take a wild guess?…?.. europeans. Yes, they never ever seem to name deadly diseases after themselves all up to now, when it’s an open secret that they have caused a great deal of it for centuries ok. Let’s start at circa 1492.
They openly call for a reduction of the world’s populace, most of whom are Non european.
They put restriction of travel to europe FROM so call third world countries where ironically they get over three-quarters of their resources without which they Shit bricks! Yet it us THEY who do most of the travelling o OTHER people’s Countries, so…..wouldn’t it be THEM that’s carry back disease from so called “infected” places??
Zika is a scam. The fogging and vaccines are the things that will shrink your head! Scaremongering at its best by monkeys, for monkeys! https://jonrappoport.wordpress.com/2016/01/28/is-the-dreaded-zika-virus-another-giant-scam/
Lol leave it to a worker to make a joke about something as serious as Zeka…
The mosquito is genetically engineered to carry this virus. The virus is primarily dangerous to pregnant women because the baby can be born with a small head and mentally damaged. There is no big emergency. It is just like the Swine flu propaganda. Beware of the chemical companies wanting to sell you a lot of pesticides because that is more dangerous than the mosquitos. The chemicals will be the agent killing people.
Please ministry of health, look into the breeding ground for mosquitoes which can be found on the street right next to the Portsmouth playing field. The road repair works have been placed on a long pause which has led to many pot holes with stagnant water right in the middle of the town of Portsmouth. This needs urgent attention.
the pot holes in the road are breeding mosquitoes? smh
Inevitable my foot, she first the Mosquitos will bite
I absolutely believe God’s WORD according to Mark 11:23 that we will have whatsoever we say. Therefore it is a curse to say that “Zika WILL come to our shores. Rather we should decree that “Zika WILL NOT come to our shores.
We should be very careful what we say. I do not agree with the statement made by the PS.
Welcome to Dominica Mr. Zika. How much did you pay for your passport? Hope your investment won’t be like the layou hotel and all the other doom projects.