Cayman records 7th case of chikungunya

(CNS): Another case of the mosquito borne chikungunya virus has been confirmed in a patient with a travel history to Jamaica. Despite two new cases over the last two weeks neither were locally transmitted. Although blood samples from ten new suspected cases have been sent to Trinidad this week for testing and the Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Kiran Kumar said the Cayman Islands was still managing to contain the outbreak which is now impacting more than 30 countries in the region.

“As the onset of symptoms of the locally acquired case was on 11 July we feel that we have been able to contain the outbreak through an integrated approach. That includes the Public Health Department, Mosquito Research and Control Unit, and the community efforts.”

Urging the public to take protective measures against mosquito bites during travel abroad but also within the Cayman Islands, he added:  “We cannot afford to become complacent. We will continue to have imported cases as we are in the midst of the regional outbreak.”

Samples continue to be sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in Trinidad for testing and four other results received this week were negative. The patient who tested positive for the virus is a resident of George Town, who had recently returned from Jamaica.  The onset of symptoms took place on 13 September and he is no longer considered infectious. The chikungunya virus is transmitted by mosquitoes biting infected persons during the first week of illness. 

Since Cayman’s first confirmed case in June 46 possible cases have been investigated and seven have been confirmed with only one case confirmed in apatient with no travel history to a country where the virus as caught a hold.

While 11 test results remain outstanding after ten samples were sent this week alone, 26 of the 35 results received have been negative and two were inconclusive. Results of 10 blood samples sent on 22 September are still outstanding and one from those sent the week before.

Of the seven confirmed cases, six had travelled to Dominican Republic, Guyana and Jamaica and only one patient was infected locally. Distribution of all confirmed cases include 3 from George Town, two from Cayman Bracand one in West Bay, the local patient was a resident of Savannah in Bodden Town.

Almost 11,000 cases have been reported around the Caribbean since the vcirus emerged in this region.

Further information can be obtained through www.hsa.ky. Regional updates can be accessed by visiting the CARPHA website on http://carpha.org/What-We-Do/Public-Health-Activities/Chikungunya. In addition United States updates are available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on http://www.cdc.gov/chikungunya/geo/united-states.html.