Two new suspected chikungunya cases

Health officials say two new suspected cases of chikungunya have been reported since Aug. 5, but in that time no new confirmed cases have emerged. 

Since the debilitating mosquito-borne virus was first reported in Cayman on June 25, blood tests have revealed that five people in the Cayman Islands have tested positive for chikungunya, including one case that was contracted locally.  

In total, 16 cases have been investigated, the Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kiran Kumar said. 

“There have been no new confirmed cases,” he said Tuesday.  

So far, of the 14 cases tested at the Caribbean Public Health Agency in Trinidad, five have come back positive, eight negative, and one was inconclusive. Two blood samples sent for testing between Aug. 5-11 are pending. 

According to local health officials, of the five confirmed cases, one was in George Town, one in Savannah, one in West Bay and two in Cayman Brac. 

The Department of Public Health has been issuing weekly updates on the situation. 

“The date of onset of the last confirmed case was on 22 July, 2014, and the date of onset of locally acquired chikungunya was on 11 July, 2014 – an indication that the outbreak is contained,” Dr Kumar added. 

To date, 6,924 confirmed cases of chikungunya have been reported in the region, according to the Caribbean Public Health Agency. 

Symptoms of chikungunya include a sudden high fever, severe pain in the wrists, ankles or knuckles, muscle pain, headache, nausea and rash. Other symptoms are joint pain and stiffness. 

Anyone experiencing these symptoms and who believes they may have been bitten by an infected mosquito is advised to contact the Public Health Department on 244-2621.