Latest update April 7th, 2025 6:08 AM
Health Ministry raises ‘Chikungunya virus’ alert
Proactive moves have been engaged by the Ministry of Health through its Vector Control Services Unit to guard against the dreaded Chikungunya virus which has since last year hit a number of Caribbean territories.
Vector Control Services Director, Dr Reyaud Rahman
At least this is according to Director of Vector Control Services Unit, Dr Reyaud Rahman, during an interview with this publication yesterday.
“We are paying close attention to the trek of the Chikungunya virus…it has been detected in several Caribbean territories, but St Maarten’s has recorded the highest cases so far.”
The Chikungunya virus, according to the Vector Control Director, is a mosquito-borne virus which has similarities to dengue fever. It is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti or the Aedes albopictus mosquitoes.
Although Guyana has never recorded any confirmed case of the virus, Dr Rahman said that “we do not want to be caught off-guard, so we are stepping-up our efforts; we are being proactive to keep it out as far as possible. If it does come here, though, we will be able to contain it and we are very capable to treat it as well,” he added.
The virus is usually manifested with fever and severe joint pain likened to that of arthritis while other symptoms can include muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue and rash.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) since the disease shares some clinical signs with dengue there have been occasions when it was misdiagnosed in areas where dengue is common. And because there is no cure for the disease, WHO has noted that treatment is focused on relieving the symptoms.
It has also been highlighted by the WHO that the proximity of mosquito breeding sites to human habitation is a significant risk factor for Chikungunya.
And so as part of its proactive approach, Dr Rahman said that the Vector Control Unit will be augmenting its vector control activities.
“We need people to be aware that they are likely to see more vector control work in the form of more persons coming to their door, more persons inspecting their yards, we will be doing more fogging in areas as soon as the rain eases,” Dr Rahman informed.
Vector Control workers, he disclosed too, will be engaged in the strategic placement of the Abate Larvicide which is intended to kill the mosquito larvae.
The intensified efforts the Vector Control Director said will be undertaken in collaboration with the Ministry of Health’s Environmental Health Unit and the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown.
An Aedes aegypti mosquito is capable of transmitting the Chikungunya virus
Added to this, Dr Rahman said that citizens across the country can seek to protect themselves by wearing long-sleeved and light-coloured clothing, using mosquito repellent and aerosol sprays, and mosquito coils and nets can certainly help in the protection process.
However, while most persons will seek to safeguard themselves at night, the Vector Control Director warned that the transmitting vector is known to strike during daylight as well.
Moreover, he noted that citizens can seek to spray their homes regularly with mosquito repellents which can be aided by window mesh to prevent the entry of mosquitoes.
Further still, Dr Rahman amplified the importance of persons keeping their environment clean, even ensuring that there are no open containers lying around with water. According to him, the vectors are known to breed in water nestled in tyres, empty coconut shells or any other receptacle that can hold water.
The Chikungunya virus originated in Africa and was prevalent in Asia and the Indian sub-continent, and according to WHO “since 2004, Chikungunya fever had reached epidemic proportions, with considerable morbidity and suffering.”
In recent decades, the virus had spread to Europe and the Americas and even more recently its presence in the Caribbean Region has been reported.
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