CI records 14th local case of Chikungunya virus

(CNS): Although Cayman is largely managing to contain local transmission of chikungunya virus the numbers for the year of people picking up the virus here are steadily increasing as the number of people in Cayman are contracting the disease overseas. Over the last week another four cases were confirmed two caught the mosquito transmitted disease in Jamaica and a third in Puerto Rico but a fourth had not left the island. Given that the virus is now widespread across the Caribbean region the Caribbean Public Health Agency is no longer testing cases where people have been in endemic countries and patients are being treated for the disease on diagnosis by doctors.

The total number of laboratory confirmed chikungunya cases in the Cayman Islands to date is 41 but another 27 patients have been treated for it having travelled to endemic countries. Results from 16 samples are still awaited. So far 34 patients came from  George Town, 15 from West Bay, 12 from Bodden Town and four in Cayman Brac, two live on Little Cayman and just two person in North Side has tested positive. 53 patients have reported travel history to countries experiencing outbreaks and resultsfrom 16 samples are still awaited

Meanwhile, public officials said that there were no new case of Dengue fever here this week and there have been just four cases so far this year. They also urged people to keep
Protecting themselves from the Aedes aegypti mosquito by using repellent with DEET on the skin, and wearing long sleeve pants and shirts when outside during times that mosquitoes bite, whether in the Cayman Islands or travelling.