Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Feb 02, 2016 Editorial, Features / Columnists
Guyana and the Caribbean have not even overcome the Chikunguna virus which wreaked havoc in the region, yet another mosquito-borne disease known as the Zika virus is about to arrive. There were tens of thousands of cases with the Chikungunya virus which has taken more than 100 lives in the region.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has cautioned countries to be aware of the Zika virus; which is likely to infect about four million people by the end of the year. With its symptoms of mild fever, heavy conjunctivitis and headache, it has already been found in twenty-one countries in the Americas including the United States, neighboring Brazil and Haiti. Like the dengue and Chikungunya disease, the Zika virus is spread by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito which typically breeds in stagnant water. The spread of all mosquito-borne diseases can be drastically curtailed if people make it their responsibility to rid their homes and surroundings of mosquitoes and their breeding places. However, this is easier said than done.
The Guyana government did an excellent job to reduce the spread of the Chikungunya virus by constantly spraying the affected and non-affected areas.
Zika virus was first identified in the jungles of Africa in the 1940s and up to a few months ago, it was thought that the symptoms are probably milder than those of Chikungunya and the dengue and is less likely to cause death. In Brazil, it was discovered that the virus was linked to thousands of newborn babies being born with smaller than usual brains and heads when previously there were relatively few cases. According to medical experts, the condition is known as microcephaly and it can lead to mental retardation. As was the case with Chikungunya and, decades earlier, dengue, health specialists had only limited knowledge of all the dangers posed by mosquito-borne diseases. Since the Zika Virus did not appear to have caused serious health problems, no treatment or vaccine was developed to treat it but other drugs could be used.
In Guyana, there has been one confirmed case of the Zika virus. And for the lack of any natural immunity against the virus, it is expected to spread rapidly. In that regard, one can only hope that the Ministry of Health and related agencies in Guyana have learnt well from their perceived failures in treating with the onslaught of the Chikungunya Virus in 2014.
Given the fact that the Zika Virus is in Haiti and Brazil, it is rather strange that up to now the Ministry of Health in Guyana has not issued an official warning to the citizens, especially pregnant women about the perceived dangers of the virus.
Although research into the suspected link between the birth defects and the Zika Virus is at an early stage, there is no harm in alerting the nation of the risks it posed to pregnant women and their unborn babies. It is better to be safe than sorry. Therefore, it is important that the Minister of Health and by extension, the government leave no stone unturned and act quickly to contain the virus whenever it arrives in Guyana.
Experts have claimed that the Zika Virus is transmitted by the bite of Aedes mosquitoes which are found in all countries in the Americas except Chile and Canada. The biggest worry for the government should be the possible effect on babies developing in the womb.
There have been around 4000 cases of babies born with unmetered brains in Brazil, which means that the virus is targeting pregnant women. Having a deformed or a retarded child in Guyana could take its toll on the parents because of inadequate services.
Please share this to every Guyanese including your house cats.
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