The Ministry of Health and Human Services will facilitate two one-day workshops for health professionals on the Chikungunya virus on 11th and 12th February, 2014. The Ministry is taking a proactive approach to increase education and awareness about Chikungunya in light of the outbreak that occurred 12th December, 2013 on the island of Saint Martin and subsequently spread to neighboring Caribbean islands. The workshops are scheduled as follows:
Providenciales: Tuesday, 11 February, 2014
Venue: Occasions Conference Facility, Airport Road
Time: 9:00am – 1:15pm
Grand Turk: Wednesday, 12 February, 2014
Venue: LIFE Centre
Time: 9:00am – 1:15pm
Workshop objectives are:
1. To raise awareness and improve health care capacity for early detection, adequate management, and monitoring of suspected cases of Chikungunya.
2. To strengthen the surveillance systems for the Chikungunya Virus.
Chikungunya, similar to dengue, is spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. This is a common mosquito in the Caribbean region including the TCI. Symptoms include a sudden high fever, severe pain in the wrists, ankles or knuckles, muscle pain, headache, nausea, and rash. Joint pain and stiffness are more common with Chikungunya than with dengue. The symptoms appear between four to seven days after the bite of an infected mosquito. The majority of clinical signs and symptoms last three to ten days, but joint pain may persist longer. Severe cases requiring hospitalisation are rare. There is no vaccine or treatment for Chikungunya.
These workshops are a part of a series of public health measures implemented by the Ministry of Health and Human Services to heighten awareness and increase surveillance at all health care facilities. The public is also encouraged take measures to prevent mosquito breeding in and around their homes and protect themselves from mosquito bites.
