Ministry of Health on Zika high alert

The Ministry of Health and Child Welfare has moved to assure the Zimbabwean public that it is taking precautions and it has monitoring systems.

And here is the creepy part according to Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care Dr Aldrin Musiiwa:

The mosquito that causes the Zika virus is known as the Aedes and it is locally found in Zimbabwe. At the moment we have not had Zika but we are taking precautions.

Key thing though is that because the mosquito is in the country it does not mean we are likely to have infections soon. That they are the ministry is on high alert and are not sweeping under the rug is reassuring.

The World Health Organisation has said that the threat of an epidemic is there. While the infections have generally been in South America, the USA and China have recorded infections. None have been found in Zimbabwe.

The virus mosquito-borne and generally affects unborn babies although in rare cases can be passed on sexually.

The Kenyan Olympic Committee has already threatened to pull out of the upcoming games should Zika become a bigger threat. Zimbabwe has said it will discuss on whether it will take the same action.

With information from Radio Dialogue