Twelve more Chikungunya cases confirmed in Berbice

The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) has confirmed 12 more cases of Chikungunya from samples taken in East Berbice, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported yesterday.

Two weeks ago the mosquito-borne virus had surfaced in Guyana and two people tested positive—a toddler and a woman said to be in her forties, from Cumberland and Canefield, Canje, Berbice, respectively.

Health Minister Dr Bheri Ramsaran said the discovery was made after some of the 130 blood samples sent to the CARPHA returned positive, GINA said. He stated that a case definition was established for the disease and based on this hospitals took samples from patients who signs of the symptoms.

The release stated that the 12 cases were from New Amsterdam and Port Mourant, indicating that the disease has spread further across the region while noting that an additional 82 suspected cases were identified by the New Amsterdam Hospital.

This, the release said, resulted in the Ministry heightening its Vector Control Services (VCS) in the region, placing emphasis