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Thursday, May 15, 2014
Guyana says it will conduct tests on persons entering the country who may be experiencing signs of fever, head aches, pains to the joints and eyes as it seeks to prevent the entry of the Chikungunya virus.
Director of Vector Control Services (VCS), Dr. Reyaud Rahman has said that the authorities were implementing plans for the tightening up of surveillance and intensifying of operations at the ports of entry to prevent against vector borne diseases. He said VCS desks would be stationed at the Ogle Airport and later at the CheddiJagan International Airport (CJIA) and while the intention is not to cause any form of inconvenience to passengers, the goal is to identify any case of the disease and contain it. He said the team of medical workers will also be looking at persons who may have visited an island or area that is already affected by the disease.
Chikungunya first made itself known in the Caribbean last December, when it showed up on St. Martin. More than 4,108 cases have been reported in 14 countries across the Caribbean as of the end of April including Anguilla, Aruba, Virgin Islands, Haiti, Dominica, the Dominican Republican, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Barthelemy, St Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Maarten (Dutch) and St. Martin (French).
Meanwhile
Health officials say they will launch a major new vector eradication campaign, in light of an increased incidence of the chikungunya virus on the island.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Merlin Frederick says while there have been five confirmed vases of the virus spread by the aedesaegypti mosquito health authorities are bracing for an increasing in the number of cases.
It was said that the objective of the new campaign was to eliminate breeding grounds for mosquitoes before the onset of the rainy season and the initiative will include the use of chemicals to target the ?aquatic stages? of the development of the mosquito, fogging to get rid of the adult insects, plus a public awareness campaign. Areas with the highest vector indices will be given priority.
Chikungunya first made itself known in the Caribbean last December, when it showed up on St. Martin. More than 4,108 cases have been reported in 14 countries across the Caribbean as of the end of April.
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