Is there any news on the pregnant woman who had contracted Zika last year? Also what are the Zika cases at present?
Auntie’s answer: Considering all the concern surrounding the appearance of Zika in Cayman last year, I am glad this question has been submitted, especially as we head into summer. I am sure you will recall that the Mosquito Research and Control Unit (MRCU) went into overdrive in 2016 to contain the spread of the disease-carrying insect.
To address your follow-up question, I checked in with Timothy McLaughlin-Munroe, the public health surveillance officer with the Cayman Islands Health Services Authority. There were actually two pregnant women who tested positive for Zika last year and he was able to provide an update on both women.
“One left the Islands to return to her native country and the other baby did not survive. I believe there were some other genetic factors (not Zika) at play and it was pre-term stillbirth,” Mr McLaughlin-Munroe said.
As of now, though, the news is good. “Our current situation is that so far this year we have not detected a single case of Zika or Chikungunya,” he pointed out, adding, “The last case detected was for November 2016. MRCU is doing a fantastic job eradicating and controlling the mosquito population.”
But I am sure that does not mean people should let down their guard about mosquitoes. Allow me to add my two cents here to say — and I’m sure Mr McLaughlin-Munroe would agree — it is still a good idea to take appropriate measures to avoid getting bitten by a mosquito, which can carry all sorts of diseases.
In addition, if you are going to be travelling this summer to a country where Zika has been detected previously, I would suggest you do your homework to determine if that is still an issue.
When I moved into Red Bay years ago, I saw maybe 1 mozzy in the day and maybe a dozen at night. Now there are hundreds, day and night, and often before the rains even start. We can hardly go outside from May to October. The occasional fogging and 3-times-a-month flyovers (if lucky) are not enough. When was the last time any decision-maker from MRCU actually visited our area ? You can’t assess mosquito density from a desk.
Last couple of days been seeing lots of “daytime” mosquitoes in Walkers Rd area and Prospect.
I am one of the women who tested positive for Zika and my baby is healthy and thriving at 4 months old now, thank God. I would continue to take precautions to avoid being bitten. Good luck
thank you! Many happy and healthy years to you and your baby!
Thank God. May your child continue to strive in good health!
Why would not you want to find out the status of the woman who left the island?
Erm…..because she’s left the island?
Don’t they want to know that Zika does or doesn’t cause microcephaly?
It doesn’t. Other factors were at work regarding Microcephaly.
It doesn’t
The WHO and the CDC disagree with you. Are you just repeating what you heard at the nail salon?
As with most issues, there always are people who think everything is some sort of conspiracy or that they know better without having any sort of facts to back up their position. Very tiring.