How many more Zika infected persons slipped into VI?– Resident asks
This was the topic of discussion with this news site and an individual who claimed she was aboard the same flight with the artist when he came to the territory to perform at Rita Francis Festiville.
“He wasn’t his usual self, I am Jamaican and I know Beenie, he is a jovial person and he was not himself on that flight here,” claimed the woman.
She chose not to be named as she is a public servant.
VI not doing enough to protect its population?
The woman said she is convinced that not enough is being done to ensure that residents are protected from other communicable diseases entering the territory and put on blast Medical Officer of Health, Dr Ronald E. Georges who was reported in sections of the media as saying that the VI was not notified before the artist came.
“How come the other country found out? Beenie while on stage here kept saying that he was sick and our authorities didn’t bother to even double check. This is just to show how vulnerable we are here as border issues are not being properly handled here in the BVI especially as it relates to health matters,” alleged the woman.
Beenie Man had performed on stage at the Rita Francis Festiville on Friday, July 29, 2016, even after he was banned from entering Canada due to his infection. A few days later it was reported in at least one section of the media that the BVIHSA was not notified of the artist’s condition.
Mr Georges reportedly said, "As far as I am aware, there was no advanced notification to the Ministry of Health. Usually, if there is a concern or advanced notification, then Immigration will discuss with the Port Health Officer, who will then call the Ministry of Health. Occasionally, we will receive calls directly. We did not receive any calls in this case."
The local news site further reported Dr Georges saying that once the viremic stage has passed and the individual is not exhibiting symptoms and takes standard precautions, including mosquito repellants, then transmission to local mosquito population and public health risk are less likely.
“I would not be a dumb fool to say we are at the top of our game. We are not. There are many loop holes and if the authorities spend some more time listening to us nurses and other ancillary staff things will be much more improved,” said the woman.
No Zika infection reported in VI
In a press release issued on July 26, 2016, Medical Officer of Health, Dr Ronald E. Georges, had said that since the concerns surrounding Zika started there have been 14 persons who have fit the case definition for Zika and they have all tested negative.
“Recently we tested an individual who was in close proximity with two known positive cases from another territory and that individual tested negative,” Dr Georges had confirmed.
Meanwhile, Acting Chief Immigration Officer Ian B. Penn had said he was not aware of any policy in place that could restrict persons affected with Zika virus from entering the territory.
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15 Responses to “How many more Zika infected persons slipped into VI?– Resident asks”
People really that stupid? Anyone visiting here on vacation dont have to walk with medicals so how the hell will authorities be able to stop zika? I think sometimes people will say the most $%^ stupidest things just to make the news.