The Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Health confirmed this week the first locally acquired Zika virus infection case. The patient, a 61-year-old female, was confirmed by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA).
The patient recently traveled to New Zealand in January 2016. However, as New Zealand is a Zika-free country, the indications are that this is a locally acquired case.
The Ministry is in the process of acquiring more details about the confirmed case. This will be done primarily to determine the patient’s well-being, as well as to ensure that the Ministry of Health continues its eradication efforts in the area.
While the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago works at managing this threat, the public is also reminded to take personal responsibility in dealing with mosquito borne diseases by disposing of all unwanted containers/items that may collect water; covering water barrels, drums or buckets with a tight fitted lid; keeping your drains and guttering clean; emptying and scrubbing the sides of water vases; wearing clothing to cover your arms and legs; applying insect repellent to exposed skin and sleeping under a mosquito bed-net.
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