Zika Virus in Caribbean as Dominica Republic Girl infected - Why Zika Virus will reach Jamaica and How to prepare using Citronella Soap and Vitamin C

“We are also therefore calling on the public to not only destroy breeding sites by looking for anything around the home, school, churches, and business places that may collect water and either cover it, keep it dry or dispose of it but also to protect themselves from mosquito bites by using insect repellent containing DEET, putting mesh on windows and doors and wearing long sleeved clothing where possible”

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health Dr Kevin Harvey in a Press Release commenting on the Zika Virus coming to the Caribbean as declared on Monday June 8^th 2015

I guess it’s time to panic, fellow Jamaicans and Medical Doctors in our run-down Health Sector as chronicled in my blog article entitled “JMDA laments bad conditions in Public Hospitals - How MOH Audit will reveal Doctors and Pharmacists stealing Supplies for Private Practice”, as the Zika Virus has now officially landed in the Caribbean!

It’s here at the right time to, at the start of the rainy season! We’ve just begun to be pelted by rainfall, setting the conditions right for the Aedes Aegypti mosquito to flourish!

On Monday June 8^th 2015, a report made by the El Nueve Diario newspaper in the Dominican Republic states that the Zika Virus has now claimed its first victim in the Dominican Republic as reported in the article “ZIKV Enters The Region ­ Mosquito Attack, Has Residents Running For Cover”, published Tuesday June 9, 2015 by Gary Spaulding, The Jamaica Gleaner. 

A 12-­y-o girl from Puerto Plata has become the first reported case in that island as reported in the article “Zika Virus spreads from Brazil to Dominican Republic”, published Mon June 8, 2015, RJR News. As usual, no more information can be released by the medical authorities as to her identity or what hospital she's being treated in the Dominican Republic.

But rest assured, given the fact that the symptoms of the Zika Virus manifest three (3) to twelve (12) days after the first bite by an infected Aedes Aegypti mosquito, other persons may have already be infected and we'll definitely be hearing more about them in the coming days.

The symptoms of the Zika Virus are as follows:

1.      Fever

2.      Joint and muscle pain

3.      Conjunctivitis

4.      Headache

5.      Weakness

6.      Rash

7.      Swelling of the lower limbs

Manifesting within three (3) to twelve (12) days after the first bite from an Aedes Aegypti Mosquito, the infection can last as long as four (4) to seven (7) days with the Chikungunya-like symptoms lasting for up to four (4) weeks or longer.

We're approaching the start of the Hurricane season in two (2) weeks time on Wednesday July 1^st 2015.

With the rainy season already starting, the MOH (Ministry of Health) is yet to start their preparations to face the Zika Virus. They have been slow to start their Aedes Aegypti Mosquito Vector Control Programme on Tuesday May 26^th, 2015 as reported in my blog article entitled “MOH Dr. Fenton Ferguson launches Aedes Aegypti Vector Control Programme - Zika Virus not yet in the Caribbean but be vigilant for Brazilians”.

Already several communities across Jamaica are facing a crisis in relations to controlling their mosquito populations in the following areas in St. Andrew:

1.      Long Mountain 

2.      Coopers Hill 

3.      Washington Gardens

4.      Patrick Gardens

5.      New Haven

6.      Havendale

7.      Hughenden

This as despite preventing water from gathering in containers and natural puddles on their pavements, they’re still being attacked by hordes of mosquitoes that bred elsewhere in gullies and culverts that the KSAC (Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation) is supposed to keep clean as mentioned in the article “ZIKV Enters The Region ­ Mosquito Attack, Has Residents Running For Cover”, published Tuesday June 9, 2015 by Gary Spaulding, The Jamaica Gleaner. 

Hopefully, while the MOH (Ministry of Health) is rolling out their Aedes Aegypti Mosquito Vector Control Programme, they’ll also clan up the huge puddles of thick algae green looking water on Heywood Street and Pechon Streets as reported in my blog article entitled “KSAC and NWC and the Raw Sewage problem in Downtown Kingston – How to restore order by making Downtown safe for Vendors and Shoppers”.

Zika Virus will reach Jamaica - Preparations for Zika Virus are yet to begin

Good to note here that despite the panic, PAHO (Pan American Health Organization) is yet to confirm that the 12­y-o girl from Puerto Plata is indeed infected with the Zika Virus as stated by “Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health Dr Kevin Harvey in the article Preparations for Zika Virus continues – Health Ministry”, published Tuesday, June 09, 2015, The Jamaica Observer.  

With the rainy season now upon us, especially in Milk River, Clarendon where we're already getting early morning showers, the Aedes Aegypti Mosquitoes have already begun to proliferate.

Anticipating this, Dr Kevin Harvey states that that they're working with Local Government to begin their Aedes Aegypti Mosquito Vector Control Programme, quote: “We have alerted our Regions and parishes to continue to work closely with Local Government through the parish councils to ensure an integrated approach to controlling the mosquito population, which is on the increase subsequent to the recent rains and the current weather patterns being experienced”.

In fact, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health Dr Kevin Harvey expects the Zika Virus to eventually reach Jamaica as stated in the article “ZIKV Will Reach Jamaica ­ Health Ministry”, published Tuesday June 9, 2015, The Jamaica Gleaner as the travel of infected persons between the Caribbean islands is hard to police.

Prepare for Zika Virus – Reduce Mosquito breeding sites, Citronella Soap and Vitamin C

However, the precaution remains the same to the public; destroy breeding sites for mosquitoes and eliminating sources of fresh standing water as listed below:

1.      Changing Water in Plant Vases to prevent Mosquitoes from breeding 

2.      Clear roof gutters and eaves 

3.      Cut the grass short and trim shrubbery

4.      Fill tyres with dirt and emptying containers of Water

5.      Fill in and drain part of your yard where rain puddles may form

6.      Punch Holes in Tins before disposing of them

7.      Repair outdoor faucets

8.      Repair leaking pipes 

9.      Spray motor oil on Ponds so as to kill mosquito larvae

10.  Storing Drinking water in covered containers or using a Water Tank

As it relates to preventing mosquitoes from biting you, rubbing on DEET or Citronella Oil is especially recommended for small children. Also, switching to a soap that contains Citronella Oil will make it easier for the children to adjust to the idea of wearing protection against mosquitoes as stated in the article “Mosquito Repellent Soap - The New 'Chik-V Fighter'”, published Saturday October 11, 2014 by Anastasia Cunningham, Gleaner Reporter, The Jamaica Gleaner.

Make sure to also stock up on Vitamin C, as this has been proven to boost the Immune System and make you less susceptible to the more severe symptoms of the Chikungunya Virus, Dengue Fever and the Zika Virus as explained in my blog article entitled “Vitamin C and the Chikungunya Virus - How to increase your Vitamin C Intake, Glutathione and Interferon by White Blood Cells”.

I wish I could also recommend other treatments to boost your Immune System against the Zika Virus, but those would mainly be for the Chikungunya Virus, such as the use of Spices as explained in my blog article entitled “How to fight Illness including Chikungunya Virus using Spices - US$40 Joseph Joseph Spice Store Carousel helps you organize”. 

Still, stocking up spices against the Zika Virus along with other preparations is a must, as the Rainy Season is making things comfy for the Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes.