Chikungunya cases on the decline

(CNS): Although there is now a clear decline in the number of local and regional chikungunya cases, public health officials are warning people to continue to take precautions against mosquito bites to ensure the situation remains that way. The worst now appears to be over in the recent Caribbean outbreak of the mosquito-transmitted virus and there have been no new reported cases in Cayman of local transmission.

Public health officials received six results of blood tests sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency and all were negative. A further three samples have been sent for testing in suspected cases where the patients have no travel history to countries experiencing outbreaks.

“This leaves the number of confirmed chikungunya cases to date at 43, with an additional 29 possible cases where individuals became symptomatic after travel to endemic areas,” the Health Services Authority said Wednesday.

In October suspected cases ranged from 20 to 25 per week, then fell to eight to 15 per week in November and there were only three confirmed cases during the last two weeks in December 2014.

Meanwhile, the public health department confirmed that there have been no new cases of dengue fever, with just four cases in Cayman last year

Despite the decline in the region as well as locally in chikungunya and dengue mostly being kept at bay this year, Medical Officer of Health Dr Kiran Kumar encouraged residents to continue to protect themselves from mosquito bites at home and when travelling.

Further information can be obtained through www.hsa.ky