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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
Bahamas health officials continue aggressive approach to preventing/controlling possible spread of Zika Virus
By Matt Maura, BIS
Jul 29, 2016 - 4:37:08 PM
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Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Glen Beneby. (BIS Photo/Letisha Henderson)
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NASSAU, The Bahamas (July 26) – The Ministry of Health, Department of Public Health and the Department of Environmental Health Services (DEHS), will continue their proactive, collaborative and aggressive approach to preventing and controlling the possible spread of the Zika Virus within the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, local healthcare and environmental officials said Tuesday.
Efforts aimed at source reduction and other activities to decrease the mosquito population within the Commonwealth such as treatment of water sources and fogging are ongoing and will continue to be undertaken as part of that process.
Healthcare officials will also conduct additional Zika educational sessions for both public and private healthcare providers. Family Island visits with associated town meetings, school presentations, radio and television appearances and advertisements and the airing of Public Services Announcements, are also part of the education and awareness campaign.
Members of the Surveillance Unit have been and will continue to be in constant dialogue with sporting and other organizations involved in international events to inform them of all measures needed to be taken prior to, during and after travel to these international events.
Member of the Unit recently “reached out” to the Bahamas Olympic Association and its medical personnel to inform them of those requirements and other public health precautionary measures that should be followed prior to, during and post travel to the 2016 Summer Olympics which open in Rio de Janeiro August 5.
Dr. Glen Beneby, Chief Medical Officer, Ministry of Health, said testing for suspected cases of the Zika Virus began in The Bahamas in January 2016 and has been ongoing. He said as of July 9, there have been 56 suspected cases of Zika, all of which samples have been sent to the Ministry’s reference laboratory for testing. All of those tests have come back negative.
Dr. Beneby said local healthcare officials, particularly those attached to the Surveillance Unit of the Department of Public Health, Ministry of Health will continue to monitor for suspected cases of the disease.
“Zika virus infection is of major concern, in part because of the experience in the recent outbreak in Brazil where there has been confirmed evidence of a link between Zika Virus infection during pregnancy and a congenital abnormality in the baby called microcephaly (an abnormally small head with underdeveloped brain),” Dr. Beneby said.
“There have also been confirmed cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (a condition characterized by generalized severe weakness that can threaten one’s ability to breathe) in persons infected with Zika Virus.
“We continue to monitor especially in relation to pregnancy and the detection of any abnormalities related to pregnancy. Heightened surveillance continues with the Department of Public Health in collaboration with the Department of Environmental Health Services conducting the required public health and environmental follow-up for each of the suspected cases.
“This is done in order to prevent and control possible spread of the Zika Virus disease in The Bahamas.”
Zika Virus is transmitted primarily by the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito, the same mosquito that transmits dengue, ckikungunya and yellow fever viruses. The Aedes aegypti is present in The Bahamas.
“These mosquitos are commonly found around the home and breed in standing water sources,” Dr. Beneby said. “The mosquito is a day biter with increased biting activity two hours after sunrise and several hours before sunset.”
Other modes of transmission have been identified as the Mother-to-baby and sexual transmission from an infected partner.
“Persons with Zika Virus infection most commonly have fever, skin rash and conjunctivitis (red eyes). They may also have headache, muscle and/or joint pains. These symptoms usually begin 2-7 days after infection. Only 1 out of 5 infected persons will develop symptoms of the disease. Among those who do, the disease is usually mild and lasts 2-7 days,” Dr. Beneby added.
© Copyright 2016 by thebahamasweekly.com
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