Cayman still Zika-free as virus spreads across region

Cayman Islands MRCU aircraft

(CNS): The mosquito-borne Zika virus has now been recorded in 34 countries around the Americas and beyond, including in the United States, but so far the Cayman Islands has kept the illness at bay.  The acting medical officer of health said that as of Tuesday, 16 February, no cases or suspected cases of Zika have been reported here. Dr Samuel Williams-Rodriguez reminded residents and visitors that the dengue and chikungunya viruses are still also circulating within the Caribbean region.

“The public can be assured that the Public Health Department is maintaining a high level of surveillance,” he said.

“Our partners at the Mosquito and Research and Control Unit (MRCU) have already begun intensifying integrated vector management strategies for control of vector-borne diseases. We continue with health education, and reminding the public of the importance of the avoidance of mosquito bites and the elimination of breeding sites,” Dr Williams added.

MRCU Director Dr William Petrie, who is heading up the defences against what many seen as the inevitable arrival of the virus, outlined his department’s commitment to the effort to keep it at bay for as long as possible and limit its impact when it arrives.

“MRCU’s Zika Contingency Plan is well underway in an effort to reduce the risk of transmission should the virus reach Cayman,” he said, explaining that there are now in the third week of the first phase, which is to reduce the numbers of Aedes aegypti, the mosquito responsible for transmission.

“While recent weather conditions have precluded some spraying operations, we have taken the opportunity to conduct comprehensive house-to-house treatments and, in particular, widespread surveys in order to better guide future operations,” he said. Management and staff at the unit remain vigilant in the effort to combat Zika and operations are ongoing to protect residents and visitors.

Local transmission of Zika has now been recorded in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Venezuela, Barbados, Curacao, Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Martinique, Puerto Rico, Saint Martin, Suriname, US Virgin Islands, Maldives, Thailand, American Samoa, Samoa, Solomon Island, Tonga, Vanuatu, and Cape Verde. Cases have also been reported in the United States of America.

For more information contact the Public Health Department on 244-2621 or the MRCU on 949-2557.

Symptoms of the Zika Virus: These are very similar to that of dengue and chikungunya; they include fever, muscle and joint pain, conjunctivitis (pink eye), headache, nausea, and rash. There is no vaccine or treatment; however, symptoms (which last approximately four to seven days) are treatable. To relieve fever and pain associated with the virus, it is recommended that persons drink a lot of fluids and take pain relievers such as Paracetamol.  Aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) should be avoided to reduce the risk of haemorrhage.

Residents are also reminded that the infection may present itself as asymptomatic (showing no symptoms).  Symptoms usually appear following an incubation period of three to 12 days after the bite of an infected mosquito, lasting between four to seven days, and are self-limiting. Complications of the infection requiring hospitalisation are rare. However, three fatal cases have been detected to date in Brazil.