And while every effort is being made to keep Ebola out of Belize – the experts say that with Chikungunya – it's just a matter of time before it reaches in Belize. And that time may be up. Tonight, the Ministry of Health is awaiting the result of a blood test which should come back tomorrow. That will tell them whether a resident of Las Flores has the virus that is called "Chik-V" for short.

Today, the Vector Control Chief told us that she tested positive in Belmopan at a private clinic with a rapid test – but one that is inconclusive:

Kim Bautista, Chief of Operation, Vector Control

"She tested positive with a rapid test. When that was reported to us, what we did was take a blood sample and we have it at the central lab in Belize and we're going to running a test on that. The sample sits over night and it goes through a process that takes 24 hours before you before you get back confirmations. We're also going to be sending her sample and a relative's sample, who tested negative at the same private lab, but she had dengue like symptoms. So we decided to take blood from both of them and we will get confirmation on that for you."

And so while those two blood tests should be back tomorrow – the Ministry is also looking at a pair of other cases from the same area of greater Belmopan. These cases are different because they both involve cases of women who contracted Chikungunya in Salvador: one in August, and the other in September. But their symptoms persisted after returning to Belize – and their blood samples have also been taken -0 but these are being sent to the CARPHA headquarters in Trinidad.

But because of these strong ties to central America and the bus that leaves weekly to El Salvador Belmopan may well be the city where Chikungunya is detected first in Belize. Today Bautista told us what residents of the Capital can do to protect themselves:…

Kim Bautista

"Over the years we have seen where by those areas are always at risk for dengue and combined with the travel patterns back and forth throughout central america, it only magnifies that threat. The public has a role to play in ensuring that 1, that they report suspected fever cases or dengue like cases. To ensure that they maintain their premises, free of breeding sites."

Jules Vasquez

"How should a persons react and what should they look out for?"

Kim Bautista

"In a nutshell, chikungunya is described as dengue with severe arthritis. The tell tale sign is that swollen tender joint pain that persists. So you have your typical dengue like symptoms, your fever, your headache, your pain behind your ears. Combined with that you also have the severe joint pain like arthritis, so I would advise the public if you have these symptoms visit out health facilities."

So, to go back over it: Chikungunya has still not been confirmed in Belize, but health authorities are looking at 4 different cases – all out of the greater Belmopan area whose status is under review pending the results of blood works which are underway.