Grenada monitoring outbreak Chikungunya and Zika viruses

Grenada’s Chief Medical Officer in the Ministry of Health, Dr Shawn Charles, has confirmed that Chikungunya and Zika – two vector borne viruses that are transmitted mainly by the Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes are currently circulating on the island.

“We have had one positive result that we are verifying with CARPHA,” said Charles who admitted that the results of other samples are pending.

“By the end of the week we hope to have more information,” he added.

Several medical or healthcare providers first became aware about the circulation of the viruses after it was disclosed in the Ministry of Health’s Epidemiology Surveillance Bulletin for week 43 which is the period October 21 to 27.

“Preliminary results from CARPHA CMML identified the presence of Chikungunya and Zika in circulation,” said the report under the subtopic outbreaks.

The CARPHA CMML is the Caribbean Public Health Agency, Medical Microbiology Laboratory which is based in Trinidad and Tobago. Among its roles is providing accurate and reliable services for surveillance and control of disease in CARPHA Members.

In 2014, Grenada experienced an outbreak of Chikungunya otherwise called ChicV and hundreds of people were affected by the condition which symptoms includes a fever, often higher than 102°F; Chills; Headache; Muscle pain; Joint pain, swelling, and stiffness, especially in the mornings; Nausea, vomiting and feeling tired or weak.

The Zika virus which was first diagnosed in Grenada 2015 is also spread by mosquitoes and can cause serious birth defects. Symptoms of it include Rash; Headache; Joint pain; Conjunctivitis (red eyes) and Muscle pain.

Charles clarified that it’s one positive case each for both medical conditions that share the same and or similar symptoms like dengue. The different virus is only identified when the relevant test is conducted at the laboratory.

Grenada has been experiencing an outbreak or a significant rise in dengue cases which is also transmitted via the Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes since May 2023. In recent weeks, the environmental division in the Ministry of Health has been fogging several communities.

The Epidemiology surveillance report also shows that besides the circulation of the Zika, Dengue and Chikungunya viruses, other viruses circulating in Grenada the Covid-19 virus as well as Influenza A (H1N1), Influenza A (H3N2), Rhinovirus, Adenovirus, Parainfluenza 3, & Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).