Providenciales, TCI, January 3, 2016 – The Ministry of Health, Agriculture and Human Services wishes to advise the general public that 8 new cases of Zika have been reported in the TCI including 7 on the Island of Grand Turk. These persons were seen during the period of October 14th to December 7th. This brings the total number of cases of Zika reported in the TCI to 24 which includes 19 males and 5 females. As seen throughout the region, increasing Zika diagnosis is common during the rainy season as was recently experienced on the island of Grand Turk.
Zika is a viral disease with symptoms that are similar to other mosquito borne illnesses such as dengue and chikungunya. These include rash, mild fever, pink eye, muscle or joint pain, and general malaise. However, many persons will not experience symptoms but will still be able spread the disease if they are bitten. While symptoms can be mild, or even non-existent, one concern is that the disease can be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy and cause complications to the infant such as microcephaly, a birth defect where a baby’s head is smaller than expected for its age and sex. Unfortunately, there is no specific medication to treat Zika and there are currently no vaccines to prevent it. If you suspect you have Zika, please seek medical attention at your nearest clinic.
Symptoms of Zika can be managed by:
• Getting plenty of rest
• Drinking fluids to prevent dehydration
• Taking medicines, such as acetaminophen, or paracetamol, to relieve fever and pain.
• Do not take aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Aleve or Ibuprofen until Dengue has been ruled out.
Since Zika is primarily transmitted by the bite of the Aedes species, the best way to prevent Zika is to protect yourself from mosquito bites. Interventions to eliminate mosquito breeding sites and to prevent mosquito bites are most effective. The general public therefore plays an important role in Zika reduction/prevention.
You are urged to take the following measures to stop the spread of Zika:
1. Keep your environment clean and free from standing water where mosquitos breed: check gutters and empty old flower vases, tires and other containers
2. Keep all water storage drums/containers covered
3. Avoid being bitten by wearing loose long sleeved shirts and long pants
4. Apply insect repellent to exposed skin
5. Use mosquito nets when sleeping
6. Use safe household insecticides indoors
7. Have intact window and door screens in dwellings
8. Use condoms consistently as Zika can be transmitted sexually
The Ministry of Health Agriculture and Human Services is also doing its part to prevent and reduce the spread of Zika. An intense media campaign to educate the general public on how to prevent Zika has been ongoing including the use of various media sources such as pamphlets, posters, and public service announcements on the radio, TV and social media. Zika prevention information has also been shared at booths set up at the major supermarkets and clean-up campaigns on the islands of Grand Turk and Providenciales help to keep the environment free from breeding sites while also empowering residents to clean-up their own communities. The Environmental Health Department continues to conduct premises inspections and fogging exercises and larviciding are ongoing.
Everyone has a role to play in keeping TCI vector borne disease free…let’s all do our part!
For more information contact the Health Promotion and Advocacy Unit on (649) 338- 2772.
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