By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

PINEWOOD Gardens MP Khaalis Rolle last evening chaired a community forum in his constituency, attempting to sooth concerns over the potential spread of the Zika virus throughout the area.

The country’s first confirmed case of Zika occurred in a Bahamian man who travelled to Jamaica, where he contracted the virus. That man also lives in Pinewood Gardens.

“This is a collaborative effort with the Department of Public Health, the Department of Environmental Health Services and the community of Pinewood,” Mr Rolle said ahead of last night’s town meeting.

“We are working to allay any fears that may exist in reference to the Zika virus. We want to ensure residents that we are doing all we can to guard against the spread of this virus, that is, cleaning up of properties that can aid in mosquito breeding, fogging in a scheduled manner and communicating with residents on what exactly is going on with the government’s approach to this matter.

“Officials have taken a systematic approach to this virus. My job is to give all the necessary information and that is the goal of this forum. We want to offer the necessary information to those that need it,” he added.

There are four confirmed cases of the virus in the country, all of them in New Providence.

Health Minister Dr Perry Gomez said the three latest cases were identified during the last two weeks and were confirmed in recent days by independent testing labs.

The initial case was reported on August 10. During a press conference earlier this week, health officials did not say in which areas the remaining Zika cases live.

Assistant Director of the Department of Environmental Health Services Andrew Thompson earlier this week indicated that officials had zeroed in on the Pinewood Gardens and Carmichael Road areas with its Zika fogging activities.

However, he stopped short of clarifying if any other cases were confirmed in those areas.

On Tuesday, the United State’s Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Zika virus travel notice for The Bahamas, following confirmation of local transmission.

The advisory recommended that US citizens travelling to or residing in the Bahamas enrol in the Department of State’s Smart Traveller Enrolment Programme (Step). The STEP programme provides those enrolled with security updates and direct link to local consulates in case of emergencies.

Prior to this warning, only Canada and Taiwan had issued Zika related travel warnings for persons coming to The Bahamas.

In advice that was posted last Friday on the Canadian government’s official website, the Bahamas was added to the Public Health Agency of Canada’s list of countries to avoid as a result of the Zika virus.

Taiwan’s Centre for Disease Control (CDC) issued a level two alert for persons travelling to the Bahamas.

Environmental Health officials have now implemented a public assistance programme, offering residents an opportunity to have unneeded items that could hold water to be carted away from their property.

Homeowners and occupants are asked to collect all holding containers and place them in front of their property for collection. Residents are asked to call the department at 302-5198, 302-5202 or 302-5203 for collection.