Belize Detects Cases of Chikungunya

[Gert van der Hoek]

Four Possible Cases of Chikungunya In Belmopan

posted (October 22, 2014)

And while every effort is being made to keep Ebola out of Belize – the experts say that with Chikungunya – it’s just a matter of time before it reaches in Belize. And that time may be up. Tonight, the Ministry of Health is awaiting the result of a blood test which should come back tomorrow. That will tell them whether a resident of Las Flores has the virus that is called “Chik-V” for short.

Today, the Vector Control Chief told us that she tested positive in Belmopan at a private clinic with a rapid test – but one that is inconclusive:

Kim Bautista, Chief of Operation, Vector Control:

“She tested positive with a rapid test. When that was reported to us, what we did was take a blood sample and we have it at the central lab in Belize and we're going to running a test on that. The sample sits over night and it goes through a process that takes 24 hours before you before you get back confirmations. We’re also going to be sending her sample and a relative's sample, who tested negative at the same private lab, but she had dengue like symptoms. So we decided to take blood from both of them and we will get confirmation on that for you.”

And so while those two blood tests should be back tomorrow – the Ministry is also looking at a pair of other cases from the same area of greater Belmopan. These cases are different because they both involve cases of women who contracted Chikungunya in Salvador: one in August, and the other in September. But their symptoms persisted after returning to Belize – and their blood samples have also been taken -0 but these are being sent to the CARPHA headquarters in Trinidad.

But because of these strong ties to central America and the bus that leaves weekly to El Salvador Belmopan may well be the city where Chikungunya is detected first in Belize.

7Newsbelize


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[Shiloh]

Re: Belize: Four Possible Cases of Chikungunya In Belmopan

Source: http://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=30443


Two Cases in B?pan Positive for Chik-V, Not Dengue
posted (October 24, 2014)

Two of the four suspected cases of Chikungunya in the Belmopan area have come back positive for Dengue - which has health authorities ruling out Chik-V in both cases. That's the case of the sisters from Las Flores who went to a private clinic in Belmopan and one of them tested positive for Chik-V, but on a quick test which is not approved by CARPHA, the regional testing headquarters in Trinidad. When their samples were tested at the Central Medial Lab in Belize on a CARPAHA approved test, they both tested positive for dengue, and once that appears, no further test for chikungunya is performed.

That leaves two more cases -both women from the Flores area of Belmopan who tested positive Chikungunya in El Salvador earlier in the year - returned to Belize, and started showing symptoms here...

[Shiloh]

Re: Belize: Four Possible Cases of Chikungunya In Belmopan

Source: http://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=30518


Chikungunya in Belize
posted (October 31, 2014)

It was only a matter of time - and now Chikungunya has been confirmed in Belize. We can't say 100% sure because the tests still have to go to Trinidad for confirmation, but the Ministry of Health has confirmed that three tests coming out of Las Flore sin Belmopan have tested positive in the CARPHA approved test. When we say CARPHA approved, we're referring to the test administered by the Ministry of Health - and the one approved by the Caribbean Public Health Agency.

This evening, the Director of Health Services told us that - he still wants absolute confirmation...

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Belize Detects Cases of Chikungunya

November 21, 2014 - 13:21

First Confirmed Case of Chikungunya in Belize

As anticipated and now confirmed through the country’s regional reference laboratory, Belize’s Ministry of Health has received confirmation of a positive laboratory result for Chikungunya from the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in Trinidad during the November 19 holiday.

A press release from Belize’s Government Press Office today has confirmed the first case of Chikungunya in the country. This case is from the Las Flores Community in Belmopan where the Ministry has been conducting active surveillance and vector control activity following rumored suspected cases of Chikungunya.

The Ministry continues to collaborate with the municipality and the local community to conduct clean-up campaigns. Scheduled spraying activities and health education sessions continue with the affected community.

The Ministry awaits the results on the three other outstanding samples sent to CARPHA. An update on those results will be shared by the Ministry of Health as they are made available.

Chikungunya is a disease transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. The Ministry of Health continues to urge all households and communities to reduce mosquito breeding sites and avoid being bitten.

Ambergris Today



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