Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud today disclosed that a 16-year-old boy has been tested positive for the Zika Virus. The teenager, who resides in Eccles along the East Bank of Demerara, has been treated for the virus, and is now attending school after falling ill.

The CMO, in the presence of the Public Health Minister, Dr. Gorge Norton, explained that the sample from the teenager was among the last batch sent to the Caribbean Regional Health Authority (CARPHA) in Trinidad and Tobago for testing. To date, 88 samples have been taken by the Ministry of Public Health; however only 55 were sent to CARPHA.

A 27-year-old woman was the first person to contract the Zika Virus in Guyana. The young woman resided at Rose Hall Corentyne and also at Covent Garden on the East Bank of Demerara, Region 4.

As such, vector control activities have been heightened along the East Bank corridor. Guyanese are being urged to take precautionary measures.