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Zika threat
Eight suspected cases of new virus reported
January 9, 2016.
Barbados has stepped up its border surveillance and monitoring systems as the country records eight suspected cases of the mosquito-borne Zika virus.
However, health officials have assured residents there was no need to be unduly worried because this virus was not a major threat and was not as severe as Dengue or Chikungunya.
Nevertheless, they cautioned that more vulnerable persons such as young children, the elderly and those already suffering from chronic illnesses were at higher risk.
Minister of Health John Boyce told a news briefing this morning at his Culloden Road, St Michael office that samples of the suspected cases have been sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in Trinidad for confirmation.
Eight suspected cases of new virus reported
January 9, 2016.
Barbados has stepped up its border surveillance and monitoring systems as the country records eight suspected cases of the mosquito-borne Zika virus.
However, health officials have assured residents there was no need to be unduly worried because this virus was not a major threat and was not as severe as Dengue or Chikungunya.
Nevertheless, they cautioned that more vulnerable persons such as young children, the elderly and those already suffering from chronic illnesses were at higher risk.
Minister of Health John Boyce told a news briefing this morning at his Culloden Road, St Michael office that samples of the suspected cases have been sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in Trinidad for confirmation.
“The Environmental Health Department will continue to conduct mosquito surveillance, prevention and control activities such as house-to-house inspections, surveillance at ports-of-entry and fogging in high-risk areas,” he added.
Boyce disclosed that the ministry would also continue its epidemiological surveillance to collect and analyze data from various sources, including private and public-sector facilities, in order to source information for planning and response.
Boyce disclosed that the ministry would also continue its epidemiological surveillance to collect and analyze data from various sources, including private and public-sector facilities, in order to source information for planning and response.
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