Zika case prompts health emergency in Marshalls

MAJURO – The President of the Marshall Islands, Hilda Heine, has declared a state of health emergency to push the country’s response to the Zika virus into high gear.

Dr Heine says although only one case of Zika has been confirmed in the Marshalls, Zika cases reported in the Pacific region are rapidly increasing and the Marshall Islands is highly vulnerable.

The declaration activates the Ministry of Health’s Epidemiology Network as the focal point for action to provide direction, updates and advice to the government’s National Disaster Committee.

Noting that pregnant mothers who are infected are at high risk of developing congenital malformations to their unborn child, the President yesterday issued the proclamation of a health emergency for an initial 31 days.

The confirmed Zika case in Majuro is a 25 year-old in the early stage of pregnancy.

Laboratory testing of blood from five other suspected cases turned out negative, according to the Ministry of Health on Wednesday.

The Ministry said because the Zika virus can also be transmitted by blood contact, the main hospital has banned blood transfusions to pregnant women.

The Disaster Committee will mobilise government resources needed to support the national Zika virus response plan to include government sectors, agencies and civil society for effective coordination on quarantine and sanitation efforts.

The emergency also identifies various sources of funding to support action to prevent the spread of the virus. - RNZI

Vanuabalavu resembles a bomb site

Vanuabalavu – The Fijian island of Vanuabalavu, which was torn apart by Cyclone Winston, has been described as a “bomb site”.

RNZ International reporter Alex Perrottet was the first journalist to reach the Lau group island earlier this week.

Perrottet said one resident told him it looked like people had been dropping bombs on the island.

“They are talking about tidal waves that came into their houses and made them like washing machines inside. As I walked through Lomaloma village, you can see particular intense paths of destruction and some of the people were saying that they even saw tornado-like things within the cyclone.”

Perrottet said residents are relieved aid has arrived, with flour, rice and sugar now available. - RNZI