O’Neill warns of Zika virus

 PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill has directed that measures be developed by  authorities, including the Health Department and Immigration, to counter the potential of the Zika virus to entering the country .

O’Neill said the rapid spread of the virus through the Americas, and the latest reported cases in New Zealand and Pacific islands, were cause for concern and appropriate preparedness was essential to reduce the potential of further spread.

“We must take measures at our borders to identify people who could potentially arrive with the Zika virus in their system,” O’Neill said.

“Our officials will provide recommendations on screening measures that can be implemented at ports of entry, and reporting mechanisms and systems for managing suspected cases.

“There is a great deal that remains unknown about the Zika virus, but the reports and suspected links to birth defects and neurological problems mean that this threat must be taken very seriously.

“I am calling on all people who have recently travelled to affected countries to be very mindful of their health, and to seek immediate medical assistance if they have any symptoms that could be Zika virus.

“It is  timely that we all look around our homes and workplaces to remove any water where mosquitoes could breed.”

He said following the last declaration of emergency by the World Health Organisation, that was the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, a number of existing measures and procedures could be re-activated.

“We have systems and measures that were established to deal the previous Ebola threat and these procedures can be re-introduced if this is deemed as necessary.”