The Ministry of Health is urging the public to get vaccinated against yellow fever after the virus was detected in monkeys in South Trinidad.
In a release yesterday, the ministry said there has been an increase in deaths among the monkey population in this area, and the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) has confirmed the presence of the fellow fever virus in samples obtained from the bodies of the dead monkeys.
It added that the ministry’s Veterinary Public Health Division and the Insect Vector Control Division routinely monitor the monkey population.
The yellow fever virus can be transmitted to humans mainly through the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes get the virus by feeding on infected primates (humans, monkeys) and can then spread the virus to other primates (human or non-human).
The ministry noted the majority of the population would already have been vaccinated against yellow fever as this is a vaccine given in early childhood.
Categories: News
