GUYANA’s Vector Control Unit is intensifying its efforts at combating the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, which is the carrier of the Zika virus that has been classed as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). This virus has, so far, affected only one individual here.The Ministry of Public Health has made it clear that only one case of the virus has been confirmed in Guyana, while more than a dozen samples have been returned as negative from the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in Trinidad and Tobago.

“The Ministry of Public Health wants to make it very clear that only one case of Zika virus has been presented in Guyana…I repeat Guyana has had a single case of Zika virus,” said Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton during a press conference held in the ministry’s boardroom yesterday.
Subsequent to the case being confirmed, the Vector Control Unit swung into action, putting measures in place to ensure that the virus did not spread.

Zika free
Referring to the affected person, Dr. Norton said, “In a few days we would like to declare her and her neighbourhood Zika free.”
He pointed out that information gathered so far has indicated that in neighbouring Brazil, where there is an epidemic of the Zika virus, the spread is concentrated mainly in the east of the country while Guyana is on Brazil’s northern border.
“Information from all immigration sources tells us that citizens from these states hardly ever come to Guyana,” he stated.
Zika virus not prevalent here
Meanwhile Minister of Public Telecommunications and Tourism Cathy Hughes disclosed that there are intentions to contact embassies and high commissions to adequately update them on the presence of the Zika virus in Guyana.
“We are contacting them to let them know of the real state of Zika,” she stated.
Already, she reported, there have been calls from tour organisations enquiring about the state of Zika in Guyana, and any misconceptions have been clarified.
“I was happy to let them know that we have one case and we have put specific measures in place,” she stated.
The Tourism Ministry will be dispatching a statement to international media organizations and diplomatic missions to assure potential visitors to Guyana that the Zika virus is not prevalent here.
“The Ministry is going to prepare a release to target very specifically, to parts of the international media, some of the embassies and high commissions that have actually listed Guyana as a place where Zika is, to let them know the real state of the incidence of Zika. Unfortunately we are all looking at CNN and seeing what is happening in Brazil which has a lot of cases,” said the Minister.
Fogging
Head of the Vector Control Unit Dr. Horace Cox also disclosed that fogging would have commenced in six of the ten administrative regions while activities in the other regions will commence next week.
This is being done along with the delivery of treated nets, strengthening of monitoring at the ports of entry and engaging persons in the preventative measures to be taken.
‘War’ room
Further, yesterday the Pan American Health Organisation and World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) representative, Dr. William Adu-Krow announced that a ‘war’ room has been set up by PAHO along with the aid of UNICEF to monitor information in the case of any major disease outbreak.
He said that Port Health officers are present at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and the Ogle International Airport as well as all other ports of entry countrywide. These officers are monitoring these points for individuals coming to Guyana who may exhibit signs of the illness.

By Navendra Seoraj