TCI Working to Get Off CDC Zika List

#Providenciales, August 22, 2018 – Turks and Caicos – The Turks and Caicos is still on the Zika warning list despite not having recorded any trace of the mosquito borne disease in well over a year.  During an Environmental health workshop, the Director of Medical Services shared that there is work being done now to get the country off that Zika zone list which is published by America’s Center for Disease Control.

“We’ve had no new or suspected cases of Zika in the Turks and Caicos, and along with many other countries in the Caribbean region, we are working on trying to get Zika reclassified on the CDC website, because this is proving to be a hinderance for tourism.  So we often get queiries either directly from the hotels or individuals contacting the Ministry of Health asking whether it’s safe to come to the TCI, and the answer is of course it’s safe to come to the TCI but take the usual precautions to prevent mosquito bites.” – Dr. Nadia Astwood, Director Medical Services

Some in the tourist sector believe the TCIs presence on the list will have a negative effect on Tourism and believe government must work fast and push hard to see these islands removed from Zika advisories.  The workshop, held a week ago today was directed also at bolstering vector control initiatives in the islands, especially as we approach the traditionally busy part of the Atlantic Hurricane Season.

“I can stand here today and say we haven’t had much mosquito complaints for 2018 due to the increase monitoring.” – Kenrick Neely – Director Environmental Health Department