Vincentians are being advised to report any possible cases of chikungunya infection, as soon as any of the likely symptoms appear.
The advice has come from Chief Laboratory Technologist in the Ministry of Health, Claudette Laidlow-Williams.
The incubation period of the chikungunya disease ranges from one to twelve days, with symptoms including fever, skin rash, joint pains, headache, nausea, vomiting, and partial loss of taste.
Speaking on NBC’s Face to Face programme this week, Mrs. Laidlow-Williams said early detection is crucial in minimizing the spread of the disease among the local population.
Mrs. Laidlow-Williams said despite the large number of reported cases globally, there have been no deaths directly linked to the disease.
With three confirmed cases of the disease thus far, St. Vincent and the Grenadines is among a growing list of countries in the Eastern Caribbean where the chikungunya virus has been detected.
