144 pregnant women confirmed with Zika

Providing a breakdown of the confirmed cases, Nuala Ramkissoon, epidemiologist at the National Surveillance Unit, Ministry of Health, said that St George West has the most reported cases overall with 105 confirmed. In terms of pregnancy cases, St George West had 40; Victoria, 31; St George Central, 28; St George East, 20; Caroni, ten; St Patrick, six; Tobago, three; St Andrew/St David, two; and four unknown.

Speaking yesterday at the Ministry of Health’s weekly press conference in Portof- Spain, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said, “Trinidad and Tobago was one of the first countries to take a pro-active approach in declaring Zika as a public health emergency.” He added that the amount of reported cases of Zika is not as extreme as other countries like Brazil.

“The public has an important role to play in taking personal responsibility of eliminating mosquito breeding grounds,” Deyalsingh said.

“Spraying is not the solution as spraying is part of an integrated management approach.

The more they spray, the more resistant the mosquitoes would eventually become.” Speaking on the Zika Congenital virus, neonatologist Dr Marlon Timothy, said that babies born with the virus need to have lifelong follow-up as it is ever-changing.

Information must always be updated to keep on top of the progression of the virus, he explained.

“Mothers can also breastfeed their babies as breast milk is safe and does not carry the virus,” Timothy said.