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After a few months without confirmed cases, two new positive results came in this week.
The patients have no travel history before getting sick, which means that the Zika virus was transmitted locally.
Over the last weeks the family doctors at Saba Health Care Foundation have seen a rise in patients with fitting symptoms, so more confirmed cases are expected.
Protect yourself, especially pregnant women!
Take measures to prevent mosquito bites:
• Use insect repellents on exposed skin. Insect repellents that contain DEET, Picaridin (also known as icaridin), oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or IR3535 are the most effective and safe when used according to the label. If also using sunscreen, apply sunscreen first and insect repellent second.
• Where possible, wear light coloured long-sleeved shirts and long pants, socks and shoes to minimize exposed skin.
• When indoors use air conditioning or a fan, if available, and keep the doors and windows closed, unless they are screened, to keep out mosquitoes.
• As the virus can be sexually transmitted, partners of pregnant women and women that want to become pregnant should also be very strict in taking precautions to prevent mosquito bites and practice safe sex during pregnancy.
Protect your community and neighbours!
Check around your house for possible breeding sites at least once a week; cover, remove, empty or treat any open container. Call the vector control department for more advice or to report increases in mosquito numbers on 4162273 or 4163229.
Public Health Department