Statement of Hon. Osbourne Bodden, JP Minister of Health Youth Sports and Culture

July 1 2014

In the wake of the first confirmed case of Chikungunya in the Islands, Minister of Health, Hon Osbourne Bodden, has issued the following statement:

Yesterday we heard news of the first confirmed case of Chikungunya on our shores.

This is considered an imported case as the patient had travelled to another country where an outbreak of Chikungunya is occurring. Officials have found no evidence of local transmission of the disease.

In December 2013, the World Health Organization (WHO) identified the first local transmission in the Western Hemisphere in St Martin. Twenty-five Caribbean countries have since reported cases of Chikungunya. As of 30 June 2014, nearly 5,000 confirmed cases were reported from these areas.

Transmission of the disease occurs through the Aedes aegypti mosquito- the same mosquito that transmits Dengue fever. Dengue has been in this hemisphere for a number of years and is not endemic to the Cayman Islands, as there is no sustained transmission of the disease.

We have five to seven cases of Dengue fever each year, although during the regional outbreak in 2012 to 2013 there were a total of 37 confirmed cases .   No cases have been reported for the 13/14 season.

All this is because of the vigilance of the Public Health team, the measures of the Mosquito Research and Control Unit (MRCU), and steps taken by the public.

I also want to assure you that our health care system is ready and able to treat anyone who should fall ill with the disease.

While MRCU will continue to do its part, we should all remain calm and follow their guidance in eliminating mosquito breeding sites around our homes and property. We must also protect ourselves from mosquito bites, which is the only way to prevent Chikungunya .

Protective measures include using mosquito repellents on skin and clothes. When outdoors, during times that mosquitoes are biting, persons should also wear long- sleeved shirts and long pants tucked into socks.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the Caribbean Public Health Agency for expediting testing within five hours of receiving the recent sample, as well as to PAHO for their technical support and commitment.

Thanks also to the Public Health Department for their surveillance and guidance on dealing with this threat.

A weekly update will be provided as we aim to keep the situation transparent and keep you informed.

Imported case of chikungunya confirmed in Cayman Islands

As a regional outbreak persists, public health officials have confirmed the first local case of imported chikungunya illness by a returning resident.

Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kiran Kumar said the patient, who was treated and released from the Cayman Islands Hospital last week, is no longer infectious. He also confirmed that there is no evidence of local transmission of chikungunya in the Cayman Islands.

“Chikungunya is not directly transmitted from person to person, but a mosquito biting a person with Chikungunya fever can spread the virus to another person. Hence persons, who develop symptoms within two weeks of having returned from countries with Chikungunya cases, are considered imported,” Dr. Kumar explained.

“While we need to be alert, and take preventative measures, we need not be alarmed of one case. For Aedes mosquitoes to transmit Chikungunya they must bite infected persons, who then become infectious and transmit the disease,” he emphasized.

“Hence, persons who develop Chikungunya symptoms within two weeks of having returned from countries with Chikungunya cases are advised to consult their physician and inform of their travel history,” added Dr. Kumar.

So far this year, 25 Caribbean countries have reported over 4,970 confirmed Chikungunya cases as at today.

The MRCU Director, Dr. William Petrie has confirmed that his department continues to monitor the situation, and reminds the public that they can help reduce the Aedes aegypti population locally, by clearing yards of containers that can hold water, as these are favourite breeding sites.

Minister of Health, Hon. Osbourne Bodden, said the Health Services Authority, the Public Health Department and the MRCU had taken proactive measures to combat the disease.

The Health Ministry also offered its full support to the agencies to ensure the early detection and management of any imported Chikungunya cases, in order to curtail local transmission.

For more advice on mosquito control, contact MRCU on 949-2557 in Grand Cayman, or 948-2223 on Cayman Brac; and DEH on 949-6696 in Grand Cayman, or 948-2321 in Cayman Brac.

For further information on Chikungunya, please contact the Public Health Department at 244-2648 or 244-2632.

The Caribbean countries reporting Chikungunya:

Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cuba, Dominica, Dominica Republic, French Guyana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Martinique, Puerto Rico, St Barthelemy, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, Sint Maarten, St Martin, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Turks and Caicos Islands , US Virgin Islands and Venezuela

Key Facts on Chikungunya

Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes. It causes fever and severe joint pain. Other symptoms include muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue and rash.

The disease shares some clinical signs with dengue, and can be misdiagnosed in areas where dengue is common.

There is no cure for the disease. Treatment is focused on relieving the symptoms.

The proximity of mosquito breeding sites to human habitation is a significant risk factor for Chikungunya.

Since 2004, Chikungunya fever has reached epidemic proportions globally, with considerable morbidity and suffering.

The disease occurs in Africa, Asia and the Indian subcontinent. In recent decades mosquito vectors of Chikungunya have spread to Europe and the Americas. In 2007, disease transmission was reported for the first time in a localized outbreak in north-eastern Italy.

IMAGE: www.hindu.com