Grenada’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Shawn Charles has confirmed that Chikungunya and Zika, two vector borne viruses which might be transmitted primarily by the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, are at present circulating within the nation.
“We now have had one optimistic outcome that we’re verifying with CARPHA,” mentioned Charles who admitted that the outcomes of different samples are pending.
“By the tip of the week we hope to have extra data,” he added.
A number of medical or healthcare suppliers first turned conscious concerning the circulation of the viruses after it was disclosed within the Ministry of Well being’s Epidemiology Surveillance Bulletin for week 43, which is the interval October 21 to 27.
“Preliminary outcomes from CARPHA CMML recognized the presence of Chikungunya and Zika in circulation,” mentioned the report beneath the subtopic outbreaks.
The CARPHA CMML is the Caribbean Public Well being Company, Medical Microbiology Laboratory which relies in Trinidad and Tobago. Amongst its roles is offering correct and dependable providers for surveillance and management of illness in CARPHA Members.
In 2014, Grenada skilled an outbreak of Chikungunya in any other case known as ChicV and a whole lot of individuals have been affected by the situation which signs features a fever, typically greater than 102°F; Chills; Headache; Muscle ache; Joint ache, swelling, and stiffness, particularly within the mornings; Nausea, vomiting and feeling drained or weak.
The Zika virus, which was first identified in Grenada in 2015, can be unfold by mosquitoes and might trigger severe start defects. Signs of it embrace rash; headache; joint ache; conjunctivitis (pink eyes) and muscle ache.
Charles clarified that it’s one optimistic case every for each medical circumstances that share the identical and or comparable signs like dengue. The totally different virus is simply recognized when the related check is performed on the laboratory.
Grenada has been experiencing an outbreak or a big rise in dengue circumstances which can be transmitted through the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes since Might 2023. In latest weeks, the environmental division within the Ministry of Well being has been fogging a number of communities.
The Epidemiology surveillance report additionally reveals that moreover the circulation of the Zika, dengue and Chikungunya viruses, different viruses circulating in Grenada the Covid-19 virus in addition to Influenza A (H1N1), Influenza A (H3N2), Rhinovirus, Adenovirus, Parainfluenza 3, & Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).
