Zika virus confirmed in Martinique

A symptom of the Zika virus
A symptom of the Zika virus

The mosquito-borne Zika 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.

Recently Dr. Joy St. John, Director of Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control at the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA said), “In the last decade, the Caribbean has been wrestling with wave after wave of vector-borne diseases. During the last two years, the region has seen unrelenting outbreaks of Chikungunya, and more recently Zika.”

Last month CARPHA confirmed five cases of Zika in Suriname. Transmission of the virus has also been reported in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay, Suriname and Venezuela.

Zika fever is a disease caused by the Zika virus (ZIKV), transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus Aedes. This virus was first isolated in 1947 from rhesus monkey samples, in the Zika forest in Uganda. The virus was named after the region where it was first collected.

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.

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15 Comments

  1. i
    December 30, 2015

    This virus was first isolated in 1947 from rhesus monkey samples, in the Zika forest in Uganda. The virus was named after the region where it was first collected.

    i hate to be the one to come up with conspiracy theories but this whole zika and chikungunya thing spreading like wildfire is suspicious

    on another note right in the heart of martinique in the town theres a bridge with stagnant green smelly water for years breeding mosquitoes i kno this for a fact.why arent the govt of martinique doin something about this

    • Patricia Kempton-Bowles
      January 21, 2016

      Not a conspiracy theory my friend. AIDS, EBOLA – they came from ‘monkeys’ in Africa (of course) and the USA conveniently has the patents on both these diseases. Hmnnnnnnnn….

      Now Zika (blamed on the monkeys again!!!)…. we are being ‘farmed out’ of existence my friend.

  2. Always Grateful
    December 30, 2015

    Dominicans seem to have lost their sense of cleanliness. They dump garbage anywhere, anytime. As a child, I remember people swept their yards every day. This is a rarity now. Madam Mayor, what are you doing to get people to clean up their surroundings? I recall your pre-appointment rhetoric and your grandiose plans to clean up the place. It is time to start implementing some stiff charges on the offenders.
    Time to appoint some Police Zordie who will patrol the streets & charge the offenders.
    IT IS TIME YOU GOT BUSY AND START EARNING THE BIG SALARY AND PERKS YOU ARE ENJOYING! !!!

  3. REASONING
    December 29, 2015

    It is getting more and suspicious as to what caused the existence of these diseases one after another :?: Is it a conspiracy to destroy lives by some :?: I agree that people of the island are not the cleanest,as they continue to indiscriminately litter and dump garbage all over.I find the majority of people to be not the cleanest,with the men of the island pissing and spitting all over,especially as they drink alcohol and spoke which results in them always having a cough and mucous.I feel sorry for the island as the people are in a sad situation…

  4. Gazette Bwa Patat
    December 28, 2015

    Some of the most don’t care people I have ever had the chance to associate with are my fellow Dominicans.
    After the devastating effects of Chikungunia on the local population, you would expect our people to be more aware and embark on a clean up of the environment, but we have become worse. Trash is no longer an eyesore. We actually take pleasure in dumping trash any and everywhere. Once we dump it ,it’s not our problem. What a people we have become !!! No respect for the environment, no concern for our health or that of our neighbours . We are now living like animals. We are not even passing on any positive vibes to our youngsters. We as a people/ nation must go back to the drawing board.

  5. udohreadyet
    December 28, 2015

    WHAT THE REPORTERS FAILED TO MENTION IS THAT PREGNANT WOMEN WHO CONTRACT THIS VIRUS OR THOSE WHO HAVE THE VIRUS AND BECOME PREGNANT ARE LIKELY TO HAVE CHILDREN WITH UNDERDEVELOPED BRAINS. Brazil has gone as far are urging those who have the virus to not get pregnant and those who are pregnant to take steps to protect themselves from getting it. Thought here are no confirmed cases in Dominica the virus does exist in neighboring countries.

  6. vegnag
    December 28, 2015

    lepto is still a threat mainly carried or transmitted by the rat population and that is a big concern for the Ministry of Health but I wonder if it is to the people of Dominica. Just look around to see the indiscriminate way we continue to treat our solid waste and dump garbage and tell me if we care or if we learn anything from similar diseases such as the Chic. The people doh worry if they get sick they get sick if they die they die – how else can one explain such callous disregard for our wellbeing and environment. So the mosquito will breed and be happy and the people will find everybody else to blame but themselves. C’ lavie in sweet Dominiica!!!

  7. Helping
    December 28, 2015

    Please u all pût black coal un your all brums of water to prevent mosquitos

  8. smdh
    December 28, 2015

    it is here already. One or two cases but it is here.

    • smdh
      December 28, 2015

      after erica there were a lot of mosquitoes, air is colder now so they are not out that much. but i beleive it is here already.

  9. Islandgirl
    December 28, 2015

    Please excuse my ignorant, but if this mosquito was around all this time,how come its now it’s affecting the population ?

  10. December 28, 2015

    another vector borne disease is upon us and we all are at risk so therefore we all must play our part to limit the extent to which this disease affect our country. let us get rid of stagnant water, cover containers used for water storage, flush and sweep our gutters, and clean up in general. let us make our environment inhospitable for these mosquitos. these little things will lessen the chances of this becoming an epidemic in our little country. let us take care of our selves and fellow man especially the elderly.

  11. Dominica_Lover
    December 28, 2015

    Take care of yourself my people. Use mosquito repellant, use mosquito coils, screen your homes and get rid of stagnant water around your home.

  12. Cyril Volney
    December 28, 2015

    Here we go again. Mosquito breeding is a national pastime.

    • Patricia Kempton-Bowles
      January 21, 2016

      Mozzies don’t do the disease, they are just carriers of it from one folk to another. Unless, of course, they have been engineered to have the virus which specifically makes kids very, very stupid.

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