The Ministry of Health, Agriculture and Human Services would like to advise residents and visitors of the Turks and Caicos Islands that Zika virus has been reported in 20 countries and territories in Latin America and the Caribbean from February 2014 – 26th January 2016. These countries include;
Brazil
Barbados
Bolivia
Columbia
Ecuador
El Salvador
French Guiana
Guatemala
Guadalupe Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Martinique
Mexico
Panama
Paraguay
Puerto Rico
Saint Martin
Suriname
Venezuela
To date, there are no cases of Zika virus in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Zika virus infection is caused by the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito, which isaggressive during the day and also responsible for the transmission of Dengue and Chikungunya.
The most common symptoms of Zika virus infection are mild fever, skin rash, conjunctivitis (also known as pink eye), muscle or joint pain, and general malaise. The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting for several days to a week. There is no specific treatment or vaccine for Zika.
Although symptoms of Zika are generally mild, there have been reports of congenital, neurological and autoimmune complications. For reasons that are not fully understood, a relationship has been established between pregnant women infected with Zika and cases of the birth defect microcephaly, which causes abnormally small heads and underdeveloped brains. There has also been some evidence of vertical transmission of the Zika virus from mother to child.
Some countries with Zika have reported an increase in Gullian-Barré syndrome (an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the nerves), and other neurological and autoimmune syndromes. Zika virus can cause other neurological syndromes including meningitis, meningoencephalitis and myelitis, although such syndromes have not been reported in the Region of the Americas thus far.
Due to the prevalence of the Aedes aegypti mosquito in TCI, which can transmit Dengue, Chickungunya and Zika viruses as well as our close proximity and regular flights to countries with confirmed cases of Zika like Haiti and Puerto Rico, the Ministry has taken the following measures:
Intensified surveillance activities
Implemented enhanced vector control measures; e.g., increased fogging
Increased public education about the risks associated with Zika virus, including workshops for targeted groups; and
Encouraged residents and visitors to take every precaution against mosquito bites, particularly pregnant women.
The Ministry further advises that protecting yourself from mosquito bites will help you to stay safe from contracting Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika and if travel is essential to areas experiencing these diseases, especially for pregnant women, remember to exercise extreme caution to avoid mosquito bites.
The Ministry will continue to closely monitor the situation with its regional partners and provide updates to the general public.
To Protect Yourself from Mosquito Bites:
Apply insect repellents on exposed skin liberally
When weather permits, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants
Use air conditioning or window/door screens to keep mosquitoes outside
If you are not able to protect yourself from mosquitoes inside your home or hotel, sleep under a mosquito net
Help reduce the number of mosquitoes inside and outside your home by:
Check around buildings for anything that could hold water, inspect your home and yard weekly
Turn containers over or cover them
Get rid of or cover old tires
Properly dispose of all garbage/refuse
Cover boats, children’s pools, water drums and rain barrels etc.
Clean rain gutters and make sure they are flowing properly
Check screens for holes
Empty standing water from containers such as flower pots or buckets
Stay with RTC FM for more information.
