Environmental Health Officer, Morrison McPherson has warned that Dominica should not wait until the mosquito-borne Zika Virus reaches it shores to take serious precautions.
The virus is getting closer to Dominica with neighbouring French island, Martinique, becoming the latest Caribbean country to report confirmed cases.
That island is the 11 country in the region to confirm the disease, and 12 to confirm local transmission.
“Let us not wait until we are affected by these diseases, it might be too costly to take care of it,” McPherson said during a radio interview recently. “The pain that you experience and sometimes in rare cases, God forbid it, can lead to death. That is what we do not want to happen.”
The Zika Virus is spread by the Eedis Egypti mosquito and McPherson noted that measures must be taken to prevent breeding of the insect.
“Let us take in front and prevent these animals responsible from getting the right content that they need in order to breed and increase their population,” he stated.
McPherson explained that when the population of the mosquito increases it also increases the risk of the spread of diseases.
According to him, it must be understood that the Eedis Egypti mosquito is present here in Dominica.
McPherson is appealing to the general public to be proactive when managing water in containers.
“Let’s keep it covered and if you don’t need the water, don’t store them in these containers,” he warned. “That is just making the environment right for the breeding of mosquitoes…”
Meantime Chief Environmental Officer, Anthony Scotland said the disease could have a serious effect on pregnant women.
“Zika is almost mild but in terms of women, that is the other complication because it is mild, you can have the disease and do not know, but it can affect your fetus ….” he explained. “These vectors are deadly, dangerous and we need to continue to manage our containers around Dominica.”
Zika is usually mild with symptoms lasting from several days to a week. Severe illness requiring hospitalisation is uncommon.
Symptoms of the Zika virus include fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes.
Zika virus linked to birth defects. http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/01/health/zika-mosquito-virus-puerto-rico/index.html
“Let us take in front ?? What is ‘take in front’? This is not roadside conversation. How about ‘Let’s be proactive’ or ‘Let us take preventative measures”. I am sure there are many other options than ‘let us take in front’!
Just talking about it as a news item is not good enough. Words without action will not do. Regular Radio and TV programs should be in place to promote preventive measures that can be taken. Inspectors should be out there taking preventive action and showing us what to do.
So how the Zika mosquito is able to cross the Martinique channel to reach our shores? I don’t think they could swim across.
i hope your family who resides or visited Martinique don’t return to the island.. Cause if they do that how easy zika can come in.
oh lord Allah deliver this country
I hope they are taking care of the bodies of water that is on government land like what we are seeing developing on the Massacre playing field. I used to see the young boys and girls playing there when I drive pass on my way home from work but it seems that since election last year the people of Massacre are being taught a lesson for decreasing Blackmoore’s votes.
It has been a whole year now and people are watching.
Many Dominicans will be too stupid to accept the fact that they must prevent mosquito breeding.
I have seen that happen with other mosquito-borne viruses in Dominica.
Agreed.
this is serious business and everyone should be concern.
The Ministry of Health has to introduce immediate screening at our port of entry especially the on The Bayfront where we accept our passengers from Martinique.
Also carnival is around the corner and we expect a high flow of foreigners. Health Officers please do all whats possible.
WHAT THE HECK IS UP WITH MR. MCPHERSON ‘S ENGLISH GRAMMAR?
It will be here, give it a while folks. Everything that bad we that getting it.
Like the Ministers/Gov’t(Neo-DLP made up of the chief dismantler of the authentic DLP-Now our president who has/had the gull to visit PJ at PMH) Boy is DA’s History interesting, comical ,Strange, laughable ridiculous, one of greed(call it D/can greed) to name by a few descriptive words.
How about reporting on the problems that this virus causes to pregnant women and their unborn babies and how other countries are warning women not to get pregnant when there is a chance of contacting this virus