Virus - Haiti Observer Blog

The Madariaga virus (MADV), also known as South American eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV), has recently been detected in Haiti.

The virus was primarily found in animals in South and Central America. The first human outbreak occurred in 2010 in Panama. Now, scientists reported that between 2015 and 2016, they have identified eight children in Haiti with the Madariaga virus (MADV), or South American eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV).

Madariaga is a mosquito-borne disease transmitted to humans from animals like horses, mice, rats and bats. Symptoms from the patients affected by Madariaga virus resemble those seen in dengue fever infection.

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A pregnant Haitian woman who came to Florida delivered a baby with microcephaly or with small head. According to the Florida Department of Health, the mother was infected with the Zika virus in Haiti before she came to the United States.

Microcephaly is a major birth defects often caused by the Zika virus where a baby's head is much smaller than expected. During pregnancy, a baby's head is expected to grows as the baby's brain grows. However, Microcephaly can occur if the baby's brain did not developed properly during pregnancy

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It's like dealing with Cholera which was a gift from MINUSTAH to the Haitian people was not enough. We also had recent outbreaks of Chikungunya, Dengue and our major health scare about Ebola. Still we now have something new to deal with, the Zika virus infection. As a result of recent warning by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) of cases of Zika virus infection in our region, the Minister of Public Health in Haiti has implemented early warning system to detect potential cases of the Zika infection in the Haitian population. Mosquitoes are considered to be the primary vectors of the virus. So far all specimens of mosquitoes, tested have turned out negative.

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As we all have been have been observing the development of the ebola virus, some would say it is just a matter of time before the first case appears in Haiti. Although this is something I would not wish on the country, it is important to consider this option as it is a possibility.

What will the Haitian authorities do if ebola appears in Haiti? Let's share some critical information about the virus.

One, we all know that it only becomes contagious after the infected person start showing symptoms. if someone is infected with the virus but does not show any symptoms, that person can't infect another.

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The mosquito-borne virus chikungunya has been spreading across the Caribbean and no is immune from it. It is not fatal but causes severe joint pain.

So far, Haiti has been the Caribbean country with the most recent confirmed outbreak of chikungunya. The Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and several other Caribbean islands have seen an increase in the chikungunya virus as well.

So the question is: How do you protect yourself from the spread of the chikungunya virus? If I live in Haiti or just visiting, how do I make sure I don't end up with the virus?

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