Latest update May 10th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jun 08, 2014 News
– as Chikungunya virus fight continues
While officials within the Health Ministry are daring to be optimistic that the
Chikungunya virus has been contained to areas in Berbice, moves are currently being made to build capacity in Region Six where cases of the virus have thus far been confirmed.
This publication understands that this recent development is characterised by training sessions that are being facilitated by officers from the Vector Control Services Unit of the Ministry of Health. Those in training are regional staffers who have been assisting the vector control efforts to reduce the impact of the virus.
Minister of Health, Dr Bheri Ramsaran, had informed this publication that a 10-member team led by the Ministry’s Vector Control Director, Dr Reyaud Rahman, has been undertaking vector control activities in Region Six. The team has also been engaged in intense fogging activities in Region Five as well in hopes of ensuring that the virus does not migrate to communities there.
According to the Minister, it will not be unexpected if the virus spreads to other parts of the country as people are continually travelling in and out of the affected Region. He, however, noted that the ideal situation would be to ensure that it is contained.
Moreover, he disclosed that the Ministry is appealing to persons not to venture into the affected areas, for the time being, in order to reduce the spread of the virus. This tactic has been recommended, the Health Minister said, in light of the fact that those infected have been found to be ‘common contacts’, which is in fact a classical way that vector borne diseases are spread.
However, the training of regional staffers, which this publication understands commenced yesterday, entails efforts to educate on the use of fogging machines correctly and to discern how to troubleshoot and address problems that may develop with the machines. This strategic tactic is one designed to ensure that the Regions can eventually be independent to combat the virus even after the Ministry’s Vector Control Unit would have returned to the city. The regional staffers are expected to also be continually exposed to technical advice and other support should the need arise.
The Chikungunya virus is transmitted by the Aedes Aegyti mosquito which is also known to transmit dengue fever. Its case definition includes fever, rash, muscle and joint pains, and malaise. These symptoms are known to cause a moderate to severe ailment that can even be life threatening.
But according to reports coming out from the Health Ministry, none of the confirmed
cases appear to be life-threatening.
Since the detection of the first two cases of the virus a few weeks ago, the numbers have since mounted to 14. Several of the cases were detected in sections of Canje while a few others were found in New Amsterdam and Port Mourant. And according to Dr Ramsaran, the Director of Vector Control Services has been personally visiting the infected individuals at their homes to examine their condition and determine their respective needs.
All of the cases were confirmed by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) Laboratory in Trinidad which has been working closely with the local Health Ministry, according to Dr Ramsaran.
Just over 80 samples have recently been sent to CARPHA to substantiate suspicions that they are the Chikungunya virus.
Efforts to tackle the virus have been coordinated by Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud, who disclosed that addressing the situation has also entailed monitoring the ports of entry. Further still, Dr Persaud said that moves have been made to collaborate with the Ministry’s Veterinary Public Health Unit since animals can also act as reservoirs for the virus.
Another strategic tactic, he said, has been to raise awareness about the importance of keeping the environment clean since the Aedes Aegyti mosquito is known to thrive in relatively fresh accumulated water.
It is believed the virus’ entry into Guyana was aided by travellers.
Guyana has been on high alert ever since reports of the virus surfaced in the Caribbean last year. On December 12 last year, CARPHA was informed of 10 confirmed transmitted cases on the French side of the Caribbean island of Saint Martin.
Since then more than 1,800 confirmed cases were reported from Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, French Guiana, Martinique Guadeloupe, St. Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Barthelemy and Saint Martin. Three confirmed resulting deaths were reported by Martinique and Saint Martin. “With the introduction of this new virus all of the countries started to monitor their situations…so we had several things going on,” Dr Persaud said. Among these, he said, were moves to improve regular surveillance systems whereby intensified efforts were made to monitor, on a daily basis, cases of the fever syndrome, including fever with rash and fever with joint pain.
According to Dr Persaud too, this process allowed the Health Ministry to detect, in early May, a spike in the cases of fever seen at health facilities in Berbice. Moreover, a system was put in place to collect samples for testing.
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