There is a lack of fear of Zika among the Costa Rican population, which has created problems in avoiding the spread of the virus.
Citizens’ lack of commitment in the elimination of breeding sites of the Aedes aegypti, the transmitter of Zika, in their homes, or pregnant women traveling to communities where they know there are confirmed cases of the virus, are increasing the risk of contagion and decreasing the ability to combat the disease.
“People have no fear of the virus,” said the Director of Virus Control of the Ministry of Health, Rodrigo Marin, this Thursday on the program Nuestra Voz, after the last epidemiological report detailing that in the country, there are a total of 238 infected people.
The doctor believes that it’s better to fear the virus that has propagated throughout the American continent since the beginning of the year, and whose scientific investigation is in a development phase, revealing new data regularly about its transmission and consequences.
One of the most recent findings is that the virus is not only propagated with the bite of the mosquito, but also via sexual interaction between an infected person and a healthy person.
In addition, pregnant women with less than 14 weeks gestation are at risk for their babies being born with microcephaly. Another possible consequence is that those infected develop the syndrome Guillain-Barre (paralyzed muscle).
The fight
Marin explained that the authorities of health are complying with an arduous task of destruction of possible breeding grounds with the objective of containing the virus.
In the last four months, and especially when the canton of Garabito, Puntarenas was detected as a main focus, 1.7 million potential breeding sites have been destroyed. The authorities have also visited more than 300 thousand households nationwide.
The Ministry of Health reported this Wednesday a total of 238 indigenous cases of Zika. New focus areas include the cantons of central Alajuela, Goicoechea, Turrabares, San Carlos, and Santo Domingo of Heredia.
The communities of Garabito, Quepos, and Santa Cruz register the majority of cases with 106, 20, and 14 respectively.
Source: ameliarueda.com