18 confirmed Zika cases in VI; 36 suspected– Hon Ronnie W. Skelton
“We have 18 cases; don’t make any sense we hiding it,” Hon Skelton said during Any Other Business at the First Sitting of the Second Session of the Third House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands on September 23, 2016.
“But we should not be bragging about it. The different authorities in Canada, United States, people in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the CDC, you have to report these things,” he added.
According to the Minister, there are also 36 suspected cases of the virus, which is spread mainly through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito.
“It’s cause for concern we need to take the necessary precautions. It has some serious effects for some people if you don’t do what’s supposed to be done,” said the Minister in a somber tone of voice as he continued, “We have about 18 confirmed cases up to the end of August. We have about 36 suspected cases. We have about 14 of them that happened in the month of September that are under suspicion.”
He further explained that four out of every five persons who are infected will have no need to be hospitalised as some don’t even get the symptoms. “It is here and we got three levels. We are classified as Level 2.”
The Ministry of Health and Social Development made its first official announcement of the presence of the virus in the territory on August 24, 2016, stating that there were five cases among the Cane Garden Bay and Havers areas.
The Media or Hon ‘Mitch’ Turnbull inaccurate?
The Minister’s announcement came some hours after his fellow colleague in the House of Assembly Honourable Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull falsely accused the media of inaccurate reporting as it relates to the areas where persons were found to be positively tested with the Virus.
“I want to bring up an issue that we experienced because of irresponsible work, so to speak Madam Speaker, from the media,” said Hon Turnbull in the House of Assembly. He added, “My concerns come from just about a month ago Madam Speaker, where it was reported that there were five cases of Zika in the territory with the focus of those cases zoned in on the Cane Garden Bay area which is in the Second District, Madam Speaker.”
He continued, “It then went from five cases to three cases and then with a bit of force and research and try to pull information and have our media personnel be responsible, Madam Speaker, it then moved to one and then to the point where the one case we weren’t even sure if that person contracted the illness in the said Cane Garden Bay area, Madam Speaker.”
Some questions that circulated in the minds of many who shared their opinions with this news site were, “Didn’t the media report what was released by the Ministry of Health that the five cases were among Cane Garden Bay and Havers?”
“Who does Hon Turnbull want the media to trust if they cannot report what the Health Authority released?”
“Shouldn’t he (Hon Turnbull) be blasting the Ministry of Health and not the media if he thinks the information was inaccurate?”
How Zika is transmitted!
According to persons in the Health sector of the territory, residents have every right to know if a person is in any community with the virus. While she has asked not to be named, she explained that mosquitoes become infected when they feed on a person already infected with the virus. Infected mosquitoes can then spread the virus to other people through bites. “So this is why I wish to inform Hon Turnbull that his comments were baseless.”
Zika virus is transmitted to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito (Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus). These are the same mosquitoes that spread dengue and chikungunya viruses.
These mosquitoes typically lay eggs in and near standing water in things like buckets, bowls, animal dishes, flower pots and vases. They prefer to bite people, and live indoors and outdoors near people.
Mosquitoes that spread chikungunya, dengue, and Zika are aggressive daytime biters, but they can also bite at night.
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7 Responses to “18 confirmed Zika cases in VI; 36 suspected– Hon Ronnie W. Skelton”
It is no secret that the Zika virus is on the rise in the region and beyond. Every day people come into the BVI from all over the world.
As such, the BVI must exert aggressive, urgent, reasonable and sensible action to stop/minimize/control its entry at the border and port of entries.
Additionally, there must be commensurate investment to address this mosquito borne disease. We cannot wait for an epidemic to occur for an agressive response.
We have to prepare in the dry season for the rainy season. We cannot wait for the roof to start leaking to take proactive action. A Chinese Proverb says dig a well before you get thirsty
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Moreover, the Hon Skelton is the only engineer among elected members. Why is he not in charge of Ministry of Communication and Work, a ministry that requires significant engineering? Not saying that Ronnie is not doing a good job at Health.
Furthermore, there are two medical doctors among elected members so why is not one of them in charge of Health? Is it time for a cabinet reshuffle?