Johannesburg - The South African Department of Health has put in place a plan to prevent the importation and spread of the Zika virus into the country, it said on Wednesday.
The plan has been worked out together with the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, the World Health Organisation (WH0) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said department spokesman Joe Maila.
“Outbreak response teams have been activated and prevention and control guidelines have been developed.”
“An emergency operations centre (EOC) is on standby and will be active in the event of an outbreak in the country. Risk communication has been initiated to raise public awareness on signs and symptoms of Zika virus disease, preventive measures, and where to seek health care if symptoms develop.”
The disinfection of aircrafts, airports as well as cargo containers was ongoing, and the protection from mosquito bites and elimination of mosquito breeding sites.
The virus broke out in Brazil and some of the south American countries last year. The Zika virus is transmitted to humans through mosquitoes and affects pregnant women, resulting in babies born with unusually small heads and damage to the brain.
Maila said: “Symptoms of Zika virus are usually mild and self-limiting, however, it has been associated with microcephaly and other neurologic disorders. There is no evidence of human to human transmission other than the two cases of sexual transmission recently reported.”
He added that in South Africa, the local mosquito species were unlikely to transmit the virus due to them being different and having a different behavioural pattern compared those in south America.
“In addition, the Zika virus has not been identified further south than Uganda in Africa,” Maila said.
In order to minimise the risk of contracting the virus, the department advised pregnant women not to travel to Brazil and other affected countries.
“If travel is absolutely essential, they should consult their doctor first and strictly follow precautionary measures during their trip.”
Furthermore, travellers should take precautions such wearing long-sleeve clothing, apply an insect repellent to exposed skin, sleep under mosquito-proof bed nets treated with an approved insecticide, spray the inside of their house or rooms with an insecticide after closing doors and windows and eliminate mosquito breeding sites.
Maila said travellers returning from Brazil or other affected countries were required to inform any official or physician of their travel history on arrival in South Africa.
travellers to Brazil should also get a yellow fever vaccination at least 10 days before departure, he said.
African News Agency
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