There are no confirmed cases of the mosquito-virus chikungunya virus in St Vincent and the Grenadines, the Ministry of Health said on Thursday.
Luis de Shong, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health, said no cases of the disease has been confirmed in SVG, contrary to the oral reports which are being circulated, as well as via social media.
de Shong, however, said in a release that the Ministry of Health, through the National Surveillance Committee, continues to monitor the situation and “is making huge efforts to detect and contain the virus, should it hit our shores.
“The Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment urges all citizens to remain vigilant and to take all the necessary precautions to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes in and around homes,” he further said.
Chikungunya is characterized by an abrupt onset of fever, which is frequently accompanied by joint pain.
Other common signs and symptoms include muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue and rash.
Persons manifesting signs and symptoms of the virus are advised to contact their healthcare providers or to seek immediate medical attention, de Shong further said.
The disease has been spreading across the Caribbean since late last year and St. Lucia recorded its first case in later March.
why is Luis Deshong speaking on matters of health? he is a civil servant not a public health official. Do we not have a senior public health Doctor ?