By Naomi Marshall

A ZIKA awareness and prevention seminar was held in Linden on Sunday at the New Silver City Secondary School.

The aim of the seminar was to create a baseline of knowledge of preventative measures of the Zika Virus for the residents of Linden and Region 10.

The seminar saw two presentations by members of Guyana Red Cross Society (GRCS) educating the attendees of causes, signs, symptoms, protection and prevention of the Zika Virus.

GRCS Field Officer, Melissa Lewis, began the seminar with an overview of how the virus is transmitted, its signs and symptoms, and treatment for the virus.

Ms Samesta Forde, on the other hand, touched on the likely complications of the Zika Virus, and how to prevent and protect oneself from getting it.

TRANSMISSION
The Zika Virus is transmitted primarily by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is also responsible for the spread of the Chikungunya Virus and Dengue Fever.

However, the virus can also be transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy, or from person to person during unprotected sex.

The symptoms include skin rashes, fever, conjunctivitis (red-eye), muscle and joint pain, weakness, headache and to a lesser extent a lack of appetite, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain and dizziness, lasting for two to seven days.

While there is no known cure for the Zika Virus, people who have contracted it are advised to get plenty of rest, drink lots of fluids, and treat pain and fever with common medicine.

The Zika Virus infection during pregnancy has been linked to microcephaly. This is a birth defect in which the size of the baby’s head is smaller than expected for the age and sex, leading to the brain not being fully developed.

The Zika Virus can further lead to the infected person being diagnosed with Gillian-Barre Syndrome (GSB), a sickness of the nervous system in which the person’s own immune system damages the nerve cells, causing muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis.

The audience was advised to destroy the vectors and breathing sites; have protective sex; use repellants and to also wear long-sleeved clothing.

“It’s always good to check up on your health status and know that you are healthy; it has nothing to do with age,” Ms Forde said.

Among those in attendance at the seminar were Linden Mayor, Mr Carwyn Holland, members of the U.S. Embassy’s Humanitarian Assistance Programme (HAP) and youths of Linden.

In encouraging the youths to share what they have learnt with their friends, relatives and classmates, Mayor Holland said:
“You have to go and spread that message and take it out to the community.”