First Case of Zika Virus in South Africa – No Cause for Panic

The National Department of Health (South Africa) says although South Africa has recorded its first case of someone infected with the Zika virus, there is no cause for panic.

The patient – a businessman from Colombia – is a tourist in Johannesburg, South Africa who contracted the mosquito-borne virus back home in South America, said Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi. The man experienced a fever and rash a few days after arriving in South Africa, but has now fully recovered.

It is only that he has been diagnosed in South Africa, said the Minister, pointing out that “as we all know there is a large outbreak of the Zika virus in Colombia currently”.

In a media statement yesterday, the Department said South Africa has been carefully monitoring the outbreak of the Zika virus in Brazil (where approximately 1.5 million people have been infected during the past eight months) and other affected countries.

The World Health Organisation declared the Zika virus a global public health emergency a couple of weeks ago. Until 2007, there were only about 20 known human cases of the virus, which originated on the African continent.

For most people Zika poses little risk, although is is linked to disorders in babies.

South Africa’s Department of Health, together with international experts, has developed an
action plan to prevent the importation and spread of the Zika virus into the country.

Prevention measures include:
• activating outbreak response teams
• developing prevention and control guidelines
• placing an emergency operations centre (EOC) on standby and activating it in the event of an outbreak in the country
• initiating risk communication to raise public awareness on signs and symptoms of the Zika virus disease, preventive measures, where to seek healthcare if symptoms develop, etc. (see websites below)
• disinfecting aircrafts, airports as well as cargo containers
• emphasising protection from mosquito bites and elimination of mosquito breeding sites

Watch Video: Zika Case in South Africa, No Cause for Panic – Health Department

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More Zika Virus information can be obtained from:
www.health.gov.za
www.nicd.ac.za
www.who.int
www.cdc.gov