Gert van der Hoek
In Memoriam - Editor, Senior Moderator
Department of Communications (DCOMM)
Government Of Sint Maarten
Tuesday, October 27, 2015 -
GREAT BAY (DCOMM) -- The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in its recent epidemiological alert, calls on Member States to increase vigilance and establish/maintain the capacity to detect and confirm cases of Zika virus infection. The Zika virus infection is spread via the vector Aedes mosquito which is also prevalent in the Caribbean and Sint Maarten.
Collective Prevention Services (CPS), a department in the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (Ministry VSA), is calling on the population to give the elimination of mosquito breeding grounds their urgent attention especially after the heavy rainfall in order to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases such as Zika.
Zika virus is a member of the Flaviviridae family and is transmitted to humans by mosquitoes. It is related to other pathogenic vector borne flaviviruses including dengue, West-Nile and Japanese encephalitis viruses but produces a comparatively mild disease in humans.
Since 2014, indigenous circulation of Zika has been detected in the Americas. In February 2014, the public health authorities of Chile confirmed the first case of indigenous transmission of Zika virus infection on Easter Island, and cases were reported until June 2014.
In May 2015, the public health authorities of Brazil confirmed autochthonous transmission of Zika virus in the north eastern part of the country. As of October of this year, 14 states had confirmed virus transmission. Recently, Colombia health authorities reported the detection of the first case of Zika virus infection in the state of Bolivar.
Countries endemic with Dengue and Chikungunya through the Aedes Agypti mosquitoes, are at risk for Zika virus. Based on the fact that if an infected Zika case comes to Sint Maarten, and with the presence of the Aedes Agypti mosquito this virus can be transmitted from person to person similar to the transmission mode as Dengue and Chikungunya.
CPS is therefore advising travellers to take necessary preventive measures when abroad (in Brazil, Colombia, Chile) and to report upon their return to their family physician if they experience symptoms.
Government Of Sint Maarten
Tuesday, October 27, 2015 -
GREAT BAY (DCOMM) -- The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in its recent epidemiological alert, calls on Member States to increase vigilance and establish/maintain the capacity to detect and confirm cases of Zika virus infection. The Zika virus infection is spread via the vector Aedes mosquito which is also prevalent in the Caribbean and Sint Maarten.
Collective Prevention Services (CPS), a department in the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (Ministry VSA), is calling on the population to give the elimination of mosquito breeding grounds their urgent attention especially after the heavy rainfall in order to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases such as Zika.
Zika virus is a member of the Flaviviridae family and is transmitted to humans by mosquitoes. It is related to other pathogenic vector borne flaviviruses including dengue, West-Nile and Japanese encephalitis viruses but produces a comparatively mild disease in humans.
Since 2014, indigenous circulation of Zika has been detected in the Americas. In February 2014, the public health authorities of Chile confirmed the first case of indigenous transmission of Zika virus infection on Easter Island, and cases were reported until June 2014.
In May 2015, the public health authorities of Brazil confirmed autochthonous transmission of Zika virus in the north eastern part of the country. As of October of this year, 14 states had confirmed virus transmission. Recently, Colombia health authorities reported the detection of the first case of Zika virus infection in the state of Bolivar.
Countries endemic with Dengue and Chikungunya through the Aedes Agypti mosquitoes, are at risk for Zika virus. Based on the fact that if an infected Zika case comes to Sint Maarten, and with the presence of the Aedes Agypti mosquito this virus can be transmitted from person to person similar to the transmission mode as Dengue and Chikungunya.
CPS is therefore advising travellers to take necessary preventive measures when abroad (in Brazil, Colombia, Chile) and to report upon their return to their family physician if they experience symptoms.