Minister waiting for officials to end holidays to get Zika update

The fogging operation in the Village Road area this week.

As of Friday, September 2, 2016

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

HEALTH Minister Dr Perry Gomez said yesterday that he is waiting for key ministry officials to return from their vacations before giving an update on the Zika virus.

Earlier this week, he told The Tribune that four additional people have been confirmed to have contracted the virus, bringing the total number of cases in New Providence up to eight.

He said yesterday that there have been no additional cases of the virus confirmed since he gave The Tribune that update on Tuesday.

When asked if the most recently confirmed cases involve local transmission of the virus, he said he could not speak to the matter, as he didn’t have the information.

Numerous key figures are on vacation, he said, suggesting that without them the ministry is unaware of certain facts.

“People are off,” he said. “The director of health, the CMO (chief medical officer) is off, they’ll be back on Monday.”

Contacted yesterday, Acting Director of Health Marcina Moxey said the ministry will release a press statement on details about Zika, although she could not say when this would happen.

Up to press time yesterday, the Ministry of Health did not release an update on Zika to the press.

Nonetheless, in a statement, the Ministry of Tourism announced that it will hold a “special Zika sensitivity meeting with industry stakeholders” on Monday at the Hilton Hotel.

“The objectives of the meeting are to further educate tourism stakeholders on the Zika virus and to encourage stakeholders to take preventive measures to mitigate the spread of Zika,” the statement said.

Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe said: “The primary focus of our meeting on Monday is to discuss precautions that we can take to combat the Zika virus and ensure that our visitors have a safe and healthy experience in our islands. The Bahamas remains a safe destination and we will continue to be. We have a lot of confidence in the work the Ministry of Health is doing to manage Zika and mitigate further cases.”

The Zika virus is transmitted primarily through the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito. However, the virus is also spread from mother to baby during pregnancy and during sexual intercourse.

On Tuesday, Dr Gomez said that 83 suspected cases are still being assessed.

“I can tell you at this time that we are up to eight cases in New Providence,” Dr Gomez told The Tribune. “I can’t give you any more details on those cases, but you can relay to the public that there are now eight confirmed cases in New Providence.”

ohdrap4 7 years, 7 months ago

they dont have email there on their vacation?

ThisIsOurs 7 years, 7 months ago

Vacations are given for a reason. They shouldn't be disturbed for something as trivial as this. I'm not saying the situation is trivial, but determining whether the four news cases were locally transmitted or not does not require input from the chief medical officer. The CMO is only reporting someone else's research, that means another senior official can take the same data and report on it too. They must have left someone in place to look after their duties. Otherwise the hospital would fall apart every time they left.

John 7 years, 7 months ago

Scientist predict that there will be TWO BILLION CASES of ZIKA worldwide with most of the cases being in Asia and Africa. They also expect that there will be thousands of babies born with microcephaly (a birth defect where babies born with small heads and underdeveloped brains). Scientists claim that there is no vaccine for ZIKA, but many persons develop a natural immunity to the virus. When pressed further a scientist admitted that while there is a direct link between Zika and microcephaly, there is not evidence to say that the virus, alone, causes the disease. Other factors must be present. In Brazil, for example where most of the microcephaly cases are located it is suspected that the insecticide used to control mosquitoes cause the disease. Brazil uses aero spraying techniques to control mosquitoes and one of the chemicals uses is known to cause birth defects.Government is urged to be cautious and aware of what chemicals it is spraying to control mosquitoes.

Sickened 7 years, 7 months ago

Some experts say that a batch of vaccine (MMR I believe) that was given (tested) in Brazil IS the cause of this virus.

jt 7 years, 7 months ago

Well, the virus was first described in Zika in the Congo in the 1950's so I doubt it.

gbgal 7 years, 7 months ago

So the Ministry closes down when key officials are on holiday? And the Minister knows nothing and can't find the information?? What a time!

John 7 years, 7 months ago

I still believe ZIka, for the most part, is a money making exercise. Imagine the billions of people who will now be tested and treated for ZIKA. Persons who show symptoms, women who are pregnant, new born babies, persons traveling to high risk areas. Then multiply that number of persons by the cost of the testing and you can see the multiple billions of dollars involved. And most of it will end up in the hands of the same people.

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