By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Deputy Chief Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

THERE are now ten confirmed cases of Zika in New Providence, with Chief Medical Officer Dr Glenn Beneby reporting yesterday that two more women have contracted the virus.

Both contracted the virus locally and are residents of central and western New Providence, health officials announced during a report on ZNS last night.

They explained that these latest cases were not among the initial 83 suspected cases that were sent to the United States for testing. Of this number, officials said 50 samples returned negative, while 33 have yet to be returned.

Dr Beneby said to combat the increased breeding of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which carries the Zika virus, fogging efforts in the areas where the infected women reside will increase.

A week ago today, Health Minister Dr Perry Gomez reported that there were four new Zika cases on the island.

At the time he said: “I can tell you at this time that we are up to eight cases in New Providence. I can’t give you any more details on those cases, but you can relay to the public that there are now eight confirmed cases in New Providence.”

Both Fox Hill MP Fred Mitchell and Pinewood MP Khaalis Rolle have urged residents in their communities to take the necessary precautions to prevent mosquito bites after Zika cases were confirmed in both areas.

The government announced this week that it would spend $2.5m a month on combatting the Zika outbreak.

The Bahamas reported an initial case of the virus on August 10 in a man who had recently travelled to Jamaica. The man is a resident of Pinewood Gardens, officials have said.

Subsequently, on August 23, officials confirmed three more cases; two of which were reported in women and two of which were transmitted locally, via mosquitoes in the area infected with the Zika virus.

Due to the risk of the virus being spread sexually, health officials have recommended the use of condoms, with a special warning being given to pregnant women to use protection while having sex or to not engage in sex at all during pregnancy.

The virus has been primarily transmitted as a result of mosquito bites.

Two weeks ago, the United States Centres 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 enroll in the Department of State’s Smart Traveller Enrolment Programme (STEP), which provides those enrolled with security updates and direct link to local consulates in case of emergencies.

It advised people travelling to the Bahamas to protect themselves from mosquito bites while there and for three weeks after returning home.

Pregnant women are advised not to travel to Zika infected areas or to have sex with partners who have lived or travelled to infected areas due to the risk of giving birth to baby with microcephaly or other severe birth defects.