Chikungunya Virus Likely to Spread in the Bahamas
As reported by Mike Ahart in Waterway News Updates, http://www.waterwayguide.com/waterway-updates/news/BAH/3928/Chikungunya-virus-spreads-to-Turks-&-Caicos-is-the-Bahamas-next??utm_source=iContact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=News-and-Navigation-Blasts&utm_content=CWU-6-26-2014-final, the mosquito-borne chikungunya virus has been spreading through the Caribbean and has reached the Turks & Caicos. Health officials in the Bahamas expect that it will soon spread into the Bahamas.
ALTHOUGH no cases of the chikungunya virus have been detected in the Bahamas, the virus is `likely’ to arrive and infect people in the country, according to a local health official.
Dr Delon Brennen, chief medical officer in the Ministry of Health, told The Tribune yesterday that it would be improbable for the Bahamas to escape infections from the fast-spreading virus.
`It’s impossible to predict when, but it’s spreading throughout the Caribbean and has come as high as Turks and Caicos island,’ he said. `With all the travel and trade throughout the Caribbean, it’s likely to come here.’
Cases of the virus have already been detected in the United States. Dr Brennen said whether many of this country’s residents are affected will depend partly on the quality of precautionary measures they take.
By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
For the full story in the Tribune242.com article, go to http://www.tribune242.com/news/2014/jun/25/chikungunya-virus-likely-affect-people-bahamas/
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