Senior Health Officer, Sylvester St. Ville in Dominica has said that there are now 13 confirmed cases of Chickungunya in the island and the matter is “a major concern for the health care system”.
Trinidad-based Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) said it was working closely with the French and Dutch authorities where the first ever case of chikungunya had been recorded.
Since then the disease had been reported in other English-speaking Caribbean islands.
CARPHA chief Dr. James Hospedales told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that his advice is to” stay informed and stay alert to the news and any updated information.”
“The Caribbean is at risk, exactly what will happen in the weeks and months ahead we don’t know because it has not been here before but we are at risk,” Dr. Hospedales told CMC, adding “this is a new virus to the region and therefore the vast majority of people are susceptible”
Dominica is increasing all of its efforts to eradicate Chikungunya which is a viral disease carried mainly by the Aedes aegypti mosquito and which also causes dengue fever.
This programme includes extensive fogging and educating the populace about reducing the ability of the mosquito to breed by inspecting the premises around and about them and to be vigilant with babies as well.
Symptoms of the disease include a sudden high fever, severe pain in the wrists, ankles or knuckles, muscle pain, headache, nausea and rash.
Joint pain has also been indicated in Chickungunya as well.
Hospedelas also suggested that people visit the CARPHA website and download the checklist of breeding places and attempt to eradicate the mosquito.
