The Timor-Leste government said it had adequate human resources and equipment to diagnose and treat zika patients.
Head of the department of communicable disease Dr Merita Monteiro said although there had been no reported cases in Timor-Leste, it was possible as neighboring countries like Indonesia and Singapore had already been affected.
“We have activated our surveillance system at the airport [and are] sharing information to communities, including the health personnel and [we have the] complete adequate equipment to perform diagnostic tests,”said Dr Monteiro in Kaikoli, Dili.
In order to respond to emergency cases like ebola and the zika virus, the Health Ministry has also established a national commission to combat the potential epidemic.
Zika is transmitted person-to-person through the bite of an infected by aedes aegypti mosquito.
Dr Monteiro said the ministry had worked together with local authorities toestablish a national mosquito control program in sukus (villages), including fumigation to clean up neighborhoods.
Regarding to travelers coming to Timor from affected countries, she said the ministry was not doing tests directly, but ministry staff were providing information at the airport about zika symptoms.
In this way, when they have symptoms they can report to health personnel to be tested and treated.
Infection specialist Danina Coelho said the zika virus was particularly dangerous for pregnant women as it affected the unborn fetus and could result in birth defects like microcephaly, a neurological disorder that causes babies to be born with abnormally small heads.
“All problems associated with neurological disorders impact the brain and cannot be treated,” she said.
She said women can pass the virus onto their own unborn child during pregnancy.
In the majority of cases babies born with microcephaly do not surviv.
Dr Monteiro said it was particularly dangerous for pregnant women in the first and second trimester as the baby was starting to develop.
Therefore, the government should take action by controlling mosquitoes in the country and raising awareness among communities, especially pregnant women, about how they can protect themselves against the virus.
Although the symptoms could be treated, she said there was no specific medication to prevent or cure zika.
Zika virus, yellow fever, dengue and Chikungunya are from the flaviviridae family, which affects the human brain.
Member of Commission F (responsible for health, education, culture, veteran affairs and gender equality) MP Eladio Faculto called on the Ministry of Health to strengthen prevention controls at airports in order to avoid the disease being spread in Timor.
“We should also raise awareness among communities about the disease so they have better knowledge [and] not sensationalize [the issue] so the people don’t panic,” he said.
He was also appreciative of recent efforts by the Ministry of Health at the airport to spray inside airplanes before landing.
