The Caribbean region is now reporting its first case of the mosquito borne Zika Virus (ZIK-V).
According to curacaochronicle.com, a 12-year-old from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic is the very first case to reach the Caribbean’s shores a month after being reported in the South American country of Brazil.
The media house said that the 12-year-old has been hospitalized in a private medical facility.
The Zika virus is transmitted by the bite of an infected Aedes Aegypti mosquito, the same mosquito that transmits Chikungunya and Dengue.
Reports say that the virus is similar to dengue with symptoms that include fever, joint and muscle pain, conjunctivitis, headache, weakness, rash and swelling of the lower limbs.
After the bite of an infected mosquito, symptoms usually appear following the incubation period of three to 12 days. They last for four to seven days.
No deaths due to the Zika virus have been recorded worldwide to date.
The Zika Virus was first isolated in 1947 in a Rhesus monkey in the Zika Forest, Uganda. It was first isolated in humans in 1952 in Uganda and Tanzania.
Dominican Health authorities have joined their voices with the other regional health organizations to warn citizens to play their part to prevent mosquito breeding and reduce the likelihood of the disease reaching the shores of the island.
A Health Risk Management Task Force has been activated to review and refine management strategies and guidelines which will shape the Ministry’s response in the event of the disease surfaces in Dominica.
Additionally fogging activities has been initiated in areas of high Aedes Aegypti mosquito infestation across the island.
End of times people. Let us repent!
Another designer biowarfare virus brought to us by the Bio-labs.
Same s..t different day.
I see the chikungunya sinario happening all over again. Before Ministry of health can come forward, people like Scottie from Environment Health at the forefront talking crap,,,next is Bakes….
What special task force. Where is primary health care in all of this, because up till today we have yet to get any information from Ministry of Health. Yet they have news report on DNO. I least CMO was earlier this time. But mister CMO when the news is out there and the people go to their health centres for information what should your doctors and nurses say?
….what is the plan of action?
Can we start take samples for laboratory confirmation?
what is de plan.?
How come the ground soldiers have yet to be updated on the plan of action…..
SO like chikungunya you waiting for SIKA to reach Da and then start chasing all you tail?
SMH