The Zika threat a cause for concern |03 February 2016

The Zika virus is reaching dangerous proportions and could soon become a pandemic according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Since we have in our own country many common mosquitoes, aedes albopictus, through which this virus can be transmitted, we have to be on our guard. It would spread like wild fire if it were to reach our shores particularly during our rainy season when mosquitoes abound.

Perhaps, it may even be advisable for our citizens to refrain from travelling to the affected countries like Latin and Central America and the Caribbean until such time that the spread of this virus can be put under control but which may not be easy with all the air travelling going on all over the world.

Tourists arriving here from affected countries should be screened upon arrival at the airport.

Anti-mosquito insecticide should be sprayed more vigorously than ever before inside the aircraft, including the private ones, before the passengers disembark.

I hope our health authorities are monitoring the situation very closely.

John Louis Adam