By Caribbean Medical News Staff
It is seemingly unstoppable and chikungunya continues to rage throughout the region and Latin America now showing itself in the United States.
Health officials in the Cayman Islands are now saying that they can confirm two more cases there after tests came back positive from the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA). Other results proved inconclusive.
“In October suspected cases ranged from 20-25 per week, then fell to eight to 15 per week in November, and three to nine in December. There has also been a decrease in the number of cases reported in the region,” said Medical Officer of Health, Dr Kiran Kumar.
“Although suspected cases are on the decline and local transmission has not been aggressive, we should not be complacent. We should continue to protect ourselves from mosquito bites and to eliminate breeding sites around our properties,” Kumar emphasized. All islands have focused on the eradication of breeding sites and protecting the elderly, already sick and babies.
Two hundred and two suspected cases of chikungunya have been reported in the Cayman Islands with 56 of those having been contracted in countries where the disease is virulent. However only 43 cases had been officially confirmed.
Dr. James Hospedales of CARPHA reported the disease as “epidemic” in the Caribbean and “out of control” urging Ministers of Health in the region to step up surveillance and public education plans.
Since the middle of December 2014, 19,837 confirmed or probable cases of chikungunya have been reported by all CARPHA member states alongside other Caribbean countries/territories according to news reports.
The disease causes bone crushing joint pain, high fever, sudden onset of severe headaches, some gastrointestinal problems, rash, itching and other issues and can last beyond ten days with joint pain lasting up to two years.
The total number of suspected cases is 827,404.
