PHILIPSBURG--Dutch St. Maarten has recorded a total of 20 confirmed Zika cases, Health Minister Emil Lee told reporters at the Council of Ministers press conference on Wednesday.
The figures are up to Monday, June 13. The country has been experiencing a slow increase in its Zika numbers over the past months.
In an effort to stem the breeding of mosquitoes that transmit the Zika as well as the chikungunya and dengue viruses, the health ministry has hired a vector control specialist.
Lee said Aruba’s Heath Minister Alex Schwengle will be in St. Maarten this week for the International Health Regulation (IHR) Conference, which will be held at Divi Little Bay Beach Resort today, Thursday, and tomorrow, Friday, June 16 and 17.
Lee said while Schwengle is here, he will take the opportunity to discuss how
St. Maarten and Aruba can cooperate regarding the control of mosquitoes. The two health ministers will also engage in discussions on best health practices, amongst other things, Lee said.
The minister added that as St. Maarten enters into hurricane season, rains can be expected and he urges residents to control the mosquito population and mosquito breeding sites in their areas. Persons can also call the hotline at tel. 550-2255 or 550 (call).
