[www.inewsguyana.com] – The Ministry of Health has confirmed two cases of Chikungunya in the Canje, Berbice area. A team has been dispatched to the area and will be conducting fogging exercise over the next two weeks.
The two cases, a toddler, and a woman said to be in her 40s are from Cumberland and Canefield, Canje, Region Six.
The discovery was made last week after some 30 samples were sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency in Trinidad for testing. The Ministry has since decided to heighten their vector control exercise in the Berbice area.
All port of entries has been identified for strict monitoring, as well as health centres have been alerted.
It was noted that health facilities have readily available medication for the effective treatment of any vector borne disease. The symptoms are similar to those associated with dengue fever.
Further the fogging exercise that has been ongoing gin the city for several weeks will continue and persons are advised to adhere to the warning during this exercise.
The Ministry is encouraging citizens to appropriately discard tyres, unwanted containers, and to keep their surroundings clean so as to eliminate breeding grounds for the vector.
The most common symptoms of Chikungunya are fever and joint pain. Other symptoms may include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash. Outbreaks have occurred in countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Indian and Pacific Oceans. In late 2013, the illness was found for the first time in the Caribbean, and now several countries have reported cases.
