Grenada Doctor Claims Chikungunya Virus Now at Epidemic Level

Grenada Doctor Claims Chikungunya Virus Now at Epidemic Level
Author

CMC News

Release Date

Friday, September 19, 2014

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A medical practitioner has said that the Chikungunya virus had reached epidemic level in Grenada and is urging the population to dispel the myth that the disease is spread by other means except the aedes egypti mosquito.

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell has called on nationals to be compassionate towards those affected by the virus.

“It’s massive! It is not hitting one side of the country or one group of persons. Everyone is going through it. It is a serious issue and we have to show love and compassion.”

Dr. Francis Martin said the virus has reached epidemic proportions with close to 60 per cent of the population manifesting symptoms which he said could be linked to the fact that people are refusing to accept that the virus is spread by the mosquito.

“As a people we try to shift blame, or shift things because it removes our responsibility…but somehow the idea of people saying it’s not mosquito it feels as though people want to take responsibility away from themselves that they are the ones to keep the place clean.”

He said the virus is at its peak right now with the prospects of it worsening before it gets better and that perpetuating the myth that the virus is spread through other means is “delaying the response that ought to be taken to get rid of the breeding sites of this mosquito”.

Speaking on a special television programme of the Government Information Service (GIS) on Tuesday night, the medical practitioner warned Grenadians to take proactive measure to avoid being bitten by the mosquito, adding that though the initial symptoms can be severe, the relapse can be even worse and those symptoms can affect a patient for up to one year.

“The acute Chikungunya can be bad but the relapse can be worse; stay protected and avoid yourself from getting Chikungunya in the first place.”

The 90-minute television programme, which was broadcast simultaneously on several radio and television stations here, was designed to bring heightened awareness of the effects of the virus that the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) said Wednesday was responsible for more than 100 deaths across the region.

The private sector representative in the Senate, Christopher De Allie, said the virus has seriously affected productivity levels in the country and the Employers Federation is currently analyzing data to ascertain the cost of the losses incurred by the country from this virus.

“We have seen a serious hit and the productivity is not only in terms of lost hours but you’re also seeing a down turn in terms of your ability to service and deliver your goods and services to the ordinary customer.”

“The Grenada Employers Federation is now trying to get some statistics from all the various organisations that might have had it …and we’re trying to get a sense of the numbers, the kind of lost hours and see if we can put some dollar figure to it.”

He said private sector employers have been exercising flexibility and leniency with their employees during this difficult period.



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