Zika virus in Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago is a twin island country situated off the northern edge of South America mainland. Bordering the Caribbean to the north, it shares maritime boundaries with other nations including Barbados to the northeast, Grenada to the northwest, Guyana to the southeast, and Venezuela to the south and west.
The country declared a national health emergency over Zika virus on 29 January 2016. Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said that the Zika virus is a clear threat to Trinidad and Tobago. A Rapid Response Unit was being set up to aggressively tackle the Zika virus and the Ministries of Local Government and National Security and other State agencies were involved in the programme. Fogging and spraying will be continued and people will be educated on how to prevent Zika virus.
On 17 February 2016, the first Zika virus case in Trinidad and Tobago was confirmed.
2016
Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh confirmed the first Zika virus case in Trinidad and Tobago on 17 February 2016. Speaking at a Rapid Response mosquito eradication exercise in Penal Rock Road, Deyalsingh said laboratory tests at the Caribbean Public Health Agency confirmed that a 61-year-old female is positive for Zika virus. She recently traveled to New Zealand. Though, New Zealand doesn't have any cases of Zika virus, it remains to be seen how she was infected by the virus. The person first exhibited the symptoms on February 10 and February 12 and her blood sample was sent for testing.
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