Wednesday Dr. Florence Duperval Guillaume, Minister of Public Health took stock at a press conference on the evolution of Zika virus in Haiti. According to Dr. Paul Adrien of the direction of Epidemiology of Laboratory and of the Research (DELR), 125 cases were reported across the 10 departments of the country. West (35%) and the North (32%) have the largest number of cases, noting that these figures do not reflect reality because generally subjects with fever Zika do not refer systematically to a health center to be diagnosed and/or treated.

About the risks of transmission of Zika virus from mother to child during pregnancy with microcephaly threat to the fetus, Dr. Adrien indicated that no cases had been reported in pregnant women. It recommends that pregnant women use the collective and individual preventive measures (sleep under mosquito nets and use mosquito repellent creams to avoid being bitten by an infected mosquito).

Besides the personal protective measures, the fight against the disease through prevention of the proliferation of mosquitoes, ie by reducing all potential sources of larval habitats formed by stagnant water and any container capable of holding the rain water (flower pots, old tires, roof gutters poorly maintained, etc.) and by applying larvicide when removing of these houses is not possible.

Good news, the National Public Health Laboratory (LNSP) now has the technical capacity to confirm cases of Zika fever in Haiti. So, the specimens will no longer be sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) to be diagnosed.

The Ministry continues to strengthen its structures in order to permanently overcoming the virus present in the national territory.

Learn more about Zika virus :

Zika virus is transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. The clinical syndrome is known as Zika fever. The infection is symptomatic only in 18% of cases, and when it is, the diagnosis can be difficult to makes, the symptoms can be confused with those of, among other dengue or chikungunya. After incubation for 3 to 12 days, the presence of virus in blood is generally observed for 2 to 5 days. The Zika fever is self-limiting, the symptoms during 4 to 7 days. There are no antiviral against the Zika and treatment based solely on managing symptoms.

See also :

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-16391-icihaiti-health-zika-virus-increased-regional-cooperation-in-public-health.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-16333-haiti-flash-5-cases-officially-confirmed-of-zika-fever-in-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-16202-haiti-notice-early-warning-system-of-suspected-cases-of-the-zika-virus.html

HL/ HaitiLibre