Two patients have been brought to the attention of the Department of Health to determine if they should be tested for Zika.

However, a spokesman for the Department of Health stressed that there have been no confirmed cases of the virus in Bermuda and no specimens have tested positive.

“Two patients have been brought to the attention of the Department of Health by their physicians to determine if they should be tested for Zika virus given travel history and symptoms,” he said, adding that patients meeting the case definition would also be tested for chikungunya and dengue as appropriate.

“There have been no confirmed cases of Zika virus in Bermuda,” he added. “No specimens have tested positive for Zika virus in Bermuda.”

Zika is a mosquito-borne illness that results in fever, rash and joint pains, among other symptoms. More than 20 countries in the Caribbean, South America and Central America have reported outbreaks. The virus was declared a “global health emergency” this week by the World Health Organisation.

According to the spokesman, testing for suspected cases must be sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and only cases fitting the case definition are sent.

“During a public health emergency of international concern, such as the Zika outbreak, laboratory resources must be used wisely.

“With the input of CARPHA, and following consultation with the physician, a decision is made as to whether a blood specimen should be sent to that agency for testing for the virus.”

He added that local physicians have been given guidelines for appropriate Zika virus testing and have been sent letters informing them of the case definition and guidelines for taking specimens.

Suspected cases on the island are subject to case management, he said, in collaboration with the individual’s primary care doctor and the ministry’s nurse epidemiologist. Vector control measures are also immediately implemented in the patient’s residential area.

“Zika virus infection is almost always a mild infection which does not require hospital care,” the spokesman added. “In rare cases neurologic complications can occur and these would be managed as per the usual acute care management of patients according to individual needs.”

However, researchers are still determining the effects of the virus on unborn children and women who are pregnant, or planning to become pregnant, are advised not to travel to affected areas.

“Consultation with their healthcare provider is important when making travel decisions or if they have returned from an affected country,” the spokesman said.

Anyone else travelling to affected areas should cover exposed skin, use mosquito repellent and wear permethrin-treated clothing and gear, and sleep in screened in or air-conditioned accommodation.

In the meantime, Bermuda continues its surveillance of fever and rash, and undifferentiated fever, through a pool of 41 reporting sources, while the Vector Control Section of the Environmental Health Department is monitoring mosquito distribution and working to eliminate mosquito breeding sites

Ongoing monitoring for ill travellers also continues at LF Wade International Airport in collaboration with the Department of Customs.