CASTRIES – The Ministry of Health and Wellness has intensified surveillance for Zika Virus Disease – particularly among pregnant women.
Acting Senior Medical Officer for Infectious Diseases, Dr Michelle Francois, said surveillance first began in regions where persons exhibited signs and symptoms of the virus.
“Our testing strategy at that time was to test persons regardless of sex, age or background,” she explained. “We tested everyone because we needed a confirmed case. Once that had been accomplished the next phase was to identify those who were most at risk. These individuals, especially pregnant women, were high on our priority list for testing because of the complications of zika.”
Such persons included pregnant women who exhibited the symptoms of zika, individuals with symptoms of Guillain Barré syndrome and babies born with microcephaly.
Dr Francois said some individuals infected with zika may appear to be asymptomatic or display no symptoms of zika, as a result, it is possible for a woman to go through her entire pregnancy showing no symptoms, yet deliver a baby with microcephaly.
“It is for this reason that we test these individuals as well as individuals who are in hospital. Zika is a mild disease compared to chikungunya where persons experience pain, so we need to investigate to find out how zika is presenting in our population because there is still a lot that is unknown about zika.”
Testing of priority groups continue and information on testing priorities has been disseminated among physicians and health workers, the medical officer said.
Zika has been isolated in both semen and saliva, although in saliva, the quantities are believed to be too small to factor as a mode of transmission.
The virus has proven, however, to be transmitted through sexual intercourse via the semen of an infected male and can be a cause of microcephaly and Guillain Barré Syndrome. Not everyone infected with zika has symptoms. (PR)
