First Test for ZIKA Returns from Caribbean Public Health Agency…

Marvin Manzanero

The Ministry of Health confirms today that it has received the results of a first test of zika sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency. The sample sent to CARPHA came back negative for zika, but positive for dengue. The person in question is from the south and, at least for now; there is a sigh of relief because the results of seven other samples are still pending. News Five spoke today with Director of Health Services, Doctor Marvin Manzanero.

On the Phone: Dr. Marvin Manzanero, Director of Health Services

“One test result came back to us late Monday evening; that is the first test that we had sent out to CARPHA as a potential case of interest, which would have been perhaps our index case had it been positive for zika. That test result came back negative for zika; PCR testing from CARPHA. The test came back positive for dengue zero type three. That result was communicated to the CDC persons that had alerted us in the beginning. It was communicated to the PAHO country office and to the PAHO regional office. So everybody has been alerted of that test result which is negative for zika.”

Duane Moody

“Sir, so no confirmed cases of zika yet in Belize?”

On the Phone: Dr. Marvin Manzanero

“None as yet. We are awaiting for a further, I believe, it is seven samples. Those results are perhaps going to be here this Friday or Monday of next week. I can tell you that we have engaged in discussions with CARPHA because as I had mentioned, we do other kinds of tests with them. And so what we are going to do is go back and review those samples that may have been potential or clinically any kind of relations to zika; we are going to also test them for that. Some samples will be done at random of the samples they already have in Trinidad.”