The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

HEALTH officials have not relented in their efforts to prevent the spread of the Zika virus to The Bahamas, with a major focus now being placed on athletes and coaches travelling to Brazil – the 2016 Olympic host country – this summer.

The statement was made by Chief Medical Officer Dr Glen Beneby on Monday as he clarified the Ministry of Health’s present course of action to combat the virus which is now being considered a global pandemic.

He told The Tribune that the Ministry of Health, through its public health facilities have ramped up its educational efforts, particularly as it relates to women who are pregnant or can become pregnant, and persons travelling to global destinations where the virus is prevalent.

In January, the World Health Organization (WHO) held an emergency conference to discuss the “explosive” spread of the Zika virus in the Americas.

Local Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/WHO representative Dr Gerry Eijkemans disclosed that the rapid spread of the virus came as a result of the lack of immunity among the population in the Americas and the proliferation of the Aedes mosquitoes in all the region’s countries except Canada and continental Chile.

This week, Dr Beneby maintained that officials in the Bahamas have had regular meetings in an attempt to stay proactive in its fight against both the breeding of the Aedes mosquitoes and the spread of the virus.

“We are working to eliminate those breeding grounds for the Aedes mosquito. We are working closely with the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) in America and our regional counterpart, CAFA,” he stated.

“We are working closely with healthcare workers, firming up our educational programme and making specific intervention in our Maternal and Child Health Clinics to address the challenges of Zika virus.”

Over the last two months, the Zika virus has become a major point of contention for Olympic officials as the virus has now been blamed for thousands of cases of microcephaly – a rare birth defect that causes newborns to be born with an uncommonly small skull.

The threat has become so severe in Brazil, that the CDC has issued a level two alert for anyone attending the Olympic summer games.

Rio, the host city, is considered the epicentre of the Zika virus by international health officials.

Bahamian athletes will head to Brazil in weeks.

To date, health officials have started to work closely with those athletes travelling to Brazil, according to Dr Beneby.

“We have a particular programme for persons who will be travelling to Brazil for our athletes, as well as those who may later this summer be travelling to that particular country,” he said, when asked about circumstances related to athletes.

However, Dr Beneby couldn’t provide any specifics about that programme. The Olympic Games are scheduled for August 5-21 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.