Latest update February 10th, 2025 7:48 AM
Clinical Chikungunya Virus on the increase – Senior Health Visitor
– at least 60 persons seen daily with symptoms at C/Ville Health Centre alone
There can be no denying, even at the level of the Ministry of Health that there has been a massive surge in the infection
Senior Health Visitor, Nurse Nalini Dass
rate of the Chikungunya virus. Based on reports reaching this publication, the health sector is currently relying on clinical diagnosis to ascertain the presence of the disease in patients. This therefore translates to health workers being able to detect the virus based on the signs and symptoms manifested.
Although the virus is one that manifests similar to that of dengue fever, there are however some distinct characterises of the Chikungunya virus. These include rashes, joint and muscle pains, coupled with high fever, nausea and headache.
And a number of persons exhibiting these symptoms have been flooding health facilities across the country on a daily basis, a state of affairs that is no less evident at the Campbellville Health Centre.
The Health Centre, which falls under the purview of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), is fast becoming as popular as the tertiary institution in terms of the number of patients accessing it.
And according to Senior Health Visitor at the Health Centre, Nurse Nalini Dass, the health facility has been seeing as much as 60 patients with symptoms of the Chikungunya virus on a daily basis.
“It is on the increase…we have so many people coming down with the symptoms – the joint pains, the fever and diarrhoea and with the nauseated feeling and so,” said Nurse Dass as she observed that this state of affairs has in fact resulted in an increase in the clientele seen at the health facility.
Nurse Dass has also attributed the increase in patients to the fact that, more persons seem to have a preference to be treated at the Campbellville Health Centre rather than at facilities closer to their residence. “People are actually leaving their catchment areas and are coming to us to be treated even though they can access care at other centres,” said the Senior Health Visitor during an interview with this publication.
She pointed out that while there isn’t a specific vaccine for the virus, symptomatic treatment is readily offered. Treatment for the virus include: the administering of panadol for fever and a voltaren injection for the joint pains. And according to Nurse Dass all medications are sourced from the GPHC and are readily accessible if the health centre’s stock becomes depleted. However, she noted that “it is very rare that we find that we are out of a drug in general but if we are we can get more from the GPHC.”
The Aedes Aegypti mosquito known to transmit the Chikungunya virus
Persons opting to utilise the service of the Campbellville Health Centre can easily do so between the hours of 08:00 – 16:00 hours each week day unlike other health centres which are managed directly by the Ministry of Health and wrap-up their operations by noon. It is perhaps for this very reason Nurse Dass noted, that the centre has been seeing more patients with the symptoms of the Chikungunya virus in recent weeks.
Although the Health Ministry from all indications does not regard the Chikungunya virus outbreak as a daunting situation, there are however, several persons in various factions of the society that have been expressing much concern about the outbreak.
Minister of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran, since the virus was first confirmed here in May, said that the Ministry was quietly tackling the public health threat so as not to create alarm or scare off tourists and investors. Among the Ministry’s efforts have been fogging and residual spraying in Regions and raising awareness among the population to remove as far as possible breeding sites.
The Health Ministry although unable to test for the virus was able to confirm through the support of the Caribbean Public Health Agency in Trinidad a total of 81 cases. However, there are many who are of the belief that the numbers far exceed the Ministry’s confirmed cases as there are hundreds of persons who have been exhibiting signs and symptoms of the virus.
Although the virus is not usually life threatening, reports out of CARPHA suggest that at least 37 persons have died in the Caribbean alone since the infiltration of the virus in December of last year. Local reports suggest that, at least two persons have died of Chikungunya related complications.
The virus is spread to humans through the bites of the Aedes Aegypti mosquito which is commonly found around homes throughout Guyana. It easily thrives in relatively clean but stagnant water.
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