Following the warning launched by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) on the circulation of the Zika virus in the Americas (Chile, Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay, Suriname, Venezuela and Honduras), the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP) had set up an early warning system for the detection of potential suspects Zika fever in Haiti. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-16202-haiti-notice-early-warning-system-of-suspected-cases-of-the-zika-virus.html

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.

In a note, Dr. Florence D. Guillaume, the Minister officially confirms the presence of Zika virus n Haiti stating that "Wednesday, January 6, 2016, the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP) has submitted to Caribbean Public Heath Agency (CARPHA) based in Trinidad and Tobago, 11 new blood samples, 5 of them were positive by the method RT-PCR on 14 January 2016. Among the confirmed cases, 4 were from the commune of Delmas and one from the commune of Pétion-ville. Thus, the MSPP certify the presence of the Zika in Haiti."

The Ministry recalls that the preventive measures are the same as those of chikungunya because the disease is transmitted by the same vector (mosquito Aedes)

Collective prevention measures :

- Identification, treatment and destruction of breeding for mosquitoes;

- Fumigation in targeted areas.

Personal prevention measures :

- Sleeping under mosquito nets;

- Wear long clothing that covers extremities (arms and legs);

- Apply to the skin mosquito creams;

- Cover the containers with water at home;

- Keep clean the immediate environment.

See also :

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

HL/ HaitiLibre