Four suspect Zika cases sent for testing
Aedes aegypti mosquito
(CNS): Local public health officials have sent four blood samples from patients suspected of having the Zika virus to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in Trinidad for testing. Dr Samuel Williams-Rodriguez, the acting medical director, said the samples were sent on Wednesday, 22 June, after three residents and one visitor presented with symptoms consistent with the mosquito-borne virus. The news comes as tourism officials recently raised the alarm that even in the absence of any confirmed cases in Cayman, the spread of Zika in the region was negatively impacting tourism. Given the circumstances, health officials said the tests were being prioritize.
Three of the four samples taken have come from patients with a confirmed travel history to countries where there is an outbreak and the Department of Public Health is in contact with the fourth to check their travel history as well.
“The CARPHA has been notified and we are advised that they will prioritize these cases and will revert with the results as a matter of urgency,” said Dr Williams-Rodriguez. “Regardless of the outcome, the public is being reminded to employ protective measures against mosquito bites locally or during their travels. Use mosquito repellants containing DEET on skin and clothing, and when outdoors during times that mosquitoes are biting, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants tucked into socks.”
Samples will also be tested for chikungunya and dengue, officials stated.
While public health officials wait for the test results, MRCU confirmed it is taking additional control measures in the areas where the patients live. Zika, along with chikungunya and dengue, is primarily transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is an invasive species in the Cayman Islands, and which bites in daylight hours.
“People can greatly assist in reducing the local Aedes aegypti population by clearing their yards of containers that can hold water as these are favourite breeding sites for this mosquito,” MRCU Director Dr William Petrie said.
Premier Alden McLaughlin, who is the health minister, said government was closely monitoring the situation.
“I assure all residents that the Department of Public Health and the Mosquito Research and Control Unit are working together, keeping a close watch, and have increased their vigilance and mosquito control efforts to minimise the population of the vector mosquito,” he said.
Meanwhile, the release of genetically modified mosquitoes in a planned trial between MRCU and the UK based bio-technology firm, Oxitec, is now expected to start early next month.
For more advice on how to control mosquitoes in your yard, contact the MRCU on 949-2557 in Grand Cayman, or 948-2223 in Cayman Brac; and DEH on 949-6696 in Grand Cayman, or 948-2321 in Cayman Brac.
Category: Local News
Zika does not scare me as much as the crimes being committed daily. I can put on bug spray, but I do not own a bullet proof vest or allowed to carry pepper spray.
Stop using the Zika Virus as an excuse for the decrease in overnight tourism. Cayman has priced itself out of the market for a lot of potential tourists, there is not much to do except for water related activities and I am sure the pesty, illegally operating beach vendors now bothering tourist who just want to relax and soak up the sun didn’t help the situation either.
Yes lets exasperate the Zika issue by releasing these GM mosquitoes and making the situation worse like they have in Brazil. That will really attract the tourists to come… not! It will ensure no tourists will visit anymore when we have a Zika epidemic on our hands thanks to GM mosquitoes! Well done, good move!
Oh shut it! Release them so that we can overcome this epidemic. You people see GM and think evil right away without doing any fecking research.
Yes Smartie pants I did research did you? Don’t come whine later when it doesn’t work out for you as expected..
“Concerns have been raised scientists could be to blame for the Zika virus outbreakafter genetically modified insects were released into Brazil three years ago.
Didcot-based biotechnology company Oxitec worked on the same type of mosquito that carries the virus in 2012, engineering them to have offspring that die out before they can breed, reducing the population of disease-carrying bugs.
Some scientists questioned the wisdom of the plan at the time and it has led to critics claiming the modification could have sparked the current outbreak.
But Oxitec refuted these claims and has actually been asked to expand its work in Brazil to help tackle the outbreak, opening a new mosquito facility in Piracicaba…”
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3425381/Are-scientists-blame-Zika-virus-Researchers-released-genetically-modified-mosquitos-Brazil-three-years-ago.html
http://www.rense.com/general96/cdc_oxford.html
http://www.gmfreecymru.org/news/Press_Notice4January2011.htm
So even if the Oxitec program succeeds, it will likely need to be repeated at intervals. “You begin to see why Oxitec is a business,” one American entomologist said dryly.
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/kill-all-mosquitos-180959069/?no-ist
http://edition.cnn.com/2014/07/08/tech/innovation/breeding-kamikaze-mosquitoes/
But critics believe that implementation of GM mosquitoes is happening too fast without enough understanding of the impact. Genewatch UK is demanding a public consultation in Brazil before the insects are released in the wild.
“Oxitec have omitted or failed to publish important information needed to make a decision”, says Dr. Helen Wallace director of Genewatch UK. “The reduction figures from their trials cannot be verified and they have not proved a positive impact on disease. One problem is that if you reduce numbers of one mosquito species, another may increase.
“Many experts think that suppressing a wild population that is so mobile will not work and may cause actual harm, no one knows for sure but it is certainly irresponsible not to consider the risk.”
http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/newsandeventspggrp/imperialcollege/newssummary/news_7-12-2015-15-20-55
“As with any new technology, there are many more steps we will go through to test and ensure the safety of the approach we are pursuing. It will be at least 10 more years before gene drive malaria mosquitos could be a working intervention,” added Professor Austin Burt from Imperial’s Department of Life Sciences.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3494140/Yet-evidence-strong-link-Zika-virus-microcephaly-experts-warn.html
But, he cautioned: ‘An important question that the authors do not discuss is the possibility that the virus has undergone mutations that make it better able to cross the placenta and/or infect neuronal tissue.’
Professor Openshaw said the fact that of the eight cases of microcephaly reported in French Polynesia, seven were seen during the last four months of the outbreak ‘hints that the virus might have changed’.
He added: ‘If this is so, the findings in French Polynesia may not be so reassuring after all.’
More research is needed to determine if mutations have occured, he said.
http://www.i-sis.org.uk/Beware_the_New_Breakthrough_Transgenic_Mosquitoes.php
NB : Oxitec used the PiggBac transposon in making the gene which is transferable to human cells…
“PiggBac a promiscuous transposon now used in gene therapy experiments. But the ill-advised Brazilian government has approved Oxitec’s transgenic mosquitoes for commercial release in April 2014.
In terms of safety, the new sex distortion transgenic mosquito is no better and possibly worse. It is important to note that the sex distortion is not complete, which means that a variable number of transgenic females will be left to bite people and transmit the potentially lethal transgenes into people’s cells.
Transgenic mosquitoes are not the solution to eradicating dengue or malaria. On the contrary, they are among the most hazardous GMOs created, and should never be released into the wild on any commercial basis.
Researchers should consider the risks involved before embarking on a project, and science journal editors and commentators should also question whether works for publications carry risks to health and the environment.”
Do you have mosquitoes in Ireland?
Thanks you. GM mosquito fear mongers are sickening. They will be partially to blame if it does not work by delaying the release to allow us to lower the population. So I blame them for the cases already because of stupidness.
Legalize marijuana, so the smoke will irritate and deter them.
Awesome idea! Going to get some Hi-grade to fill my smudge pot and watch’em all fall out the sky around me.
Tourism officials can only guess, not know. People are not coming to Cayman not because of Zika, but because of millions GM mosquitoes, crime and the Dump pollution. Regardless of official position on GM mosquitoes on this island, people who can afford to travel are not dumb and don’t want to take their chances on GM mosquitoes bites. They want to vacation in a pristine environment and not be unwitting lab rats to the Dump chemicals or GM mosquitoes.
You do understand that the GM mozzies being released are all male, right? Only females bite. Males feed on plant nectar.
Understanding that takes common sense.
Who pays you to sell out?
or so they say. Tourists care less about details. They don’t want the exposure to GM mosquitoes-real or not. Period.
Disagree! We stopped coming because of the astronomical prices to eat/drink. Bring on the GM mozzies, they won’t hurt you! i am more concerned about all the crime and of course bad driving.
So an influx of 22 million mosquitoes on a tiny island will not be noticed or missed or be an annoyance? And yes GM females will inadvertently be released too which do bite and also transmits disease, a small percentage but not impossible to get a bite from a GM female. It is hand sorted. Room for error always and is admitted by Oxitec females will be missed. As a tourist, with Zika and GM neither is appealing. This is a dangerous animal that can suck your blood, enough said.
You might want to listen to the last Oxigov show on For The Record with Orrett Connor, in which Dr. Petrie explained that females will be released and they DO carry a strain of herpes and e-coli. So much for humans not getting bitten and GM mossies being safe. Cayman is so gullible.
Yes, a small % will be inevitable, but common! More than half this island already has herpes. Pro GM Mozzies!
Really? So why are expats tested for all STD’s. I certainly do not want herpes, Zika or any other unknown disease from GM, thanks! I am herpes free and intend to stay that way!
You assume I only meant genital herpes. You, again, show your ignorance.
If you mean cold sores well they can be transferred to become genital. Herpes is herpes. Gross either way and no thanks. I have neither and intend to keep it that way.
At first no Zika now a possible total of 4! Hmm!
I figured it was already here. A few people I know have come down with a mysterious illness recently but never bothered to go to the hospital (their symptoms were mild).
Well good for them, they are helping to spread the disease. What morons, they probably would have voted yes to leave the EU as well.
I guess the MLA’s from the East will have 4 reasons now to push the Oxitec’s experiment on West Bayers, Mckeeva’s back yard …
Ha ha heeee … chuckle :))
nice knowing ya
I did not enjoy this article 🙁