Chief Medical Officer Shamdeo Persaud said yesterday that the Ministry of Public Health is on the alert for the Zika virus—a mosquito-borne disease which is transmitted by the same vector that carries the dengue and the chikungunya viruses.
Persaud, in an interview with the Stabroek News, stated that the ministry is monitoring all ports of entry and has warned Guyanese to take the necessary precautions. He advised citizens to keep their surroundings clean by cleaning their drains, getting rid of stagnated water, tyres and any other thing that could potentially be a mosquito breeding ground.
The Zika virus is spread by the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito. Its symptoms include severe fever, joint and muscle pains, headaches, rashes, and conjunctivitis. These symptoms usually appear within three to twelve days following the bite of
