It was only a matter of time - and now Chikungunya has been confirmed in Belize. We can't say 100% sure because the tests still have to go to Trinidad for confirmation, but the Ministry of Health has confirmed that three tests coming out of Las Flore sin Belmopan have tested positive in the CARPHA approved test. When we say CARPHA approved, we're referring to the test administered by the Ministry of Health - and the one approved by the Caribbean Public Health Agency.
This evening, the Director of Health Services told us that - he still wants absolute confirmation:
Dr. Michael Pitts, Director of Health Services
"Out of the 11 we had 3 reactive by the screen and now we are sending it for confirmation. I will tell you it is heading in the direction that we think it would go because the population, we are finding these preliminary tests positive from Las Flores where we have a lot of people traveling to Salvador and as you know Salvador have a lot of cases. We have increased our level of activities in terms of house to house inspection and spraying in the area."
Jules Vasquez
"Where will this go from here? Do you foresee it exploding into the sort of public health emergency that we saw in Jamaica for example or do you see us being able to somehow contain the number of infections if it is indeed Chikungunya?"
Dr. Michael Pitts, Director of Health Services
"I can't speculate. It's just to say that Chikungunya can have a high attack rate. This is what I've been saying from November last year and this is why we need everybody on board to manage the situation."
There are 540 houses in Las Flores and so far the Ministry of Health has visited 84% of them doing larvicide and removing containers where larvae thrive.
The three positive samples along with another sample from a suspect persons will be sent on Monday to CARPHA in Trinidad. It should take one week - but the last test Belize sent has been there almost two weeks - and was recently forwarded to the cEnters For Disease Control in Atlanta.
Chikungunya is characterized by an abrupt fever accompanied by severe joint pain along with muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue and rash. It is similar to dengue in symptoms, but the joint pain is more severe.
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