Health workers are ensuring there is an effective response to any confirmed cases of Zika on the island.

At Wednesday’s (August 17) post Executive Council media briefing at the Administrative Complex, Calder Hall, Secretary of Health and Social Services Assemblyman Claudia Groome-Duke revealed that there are six confirmed laboratory cases of Zika in Tobago. She said two of these were contracted by pregnant women, and another is a young girl.

Groome-Duke added that all six cases have been provided with insect vector work, health education and they have also received bed nets and insect repellent. Surveillance work has also been carried out in the affected area.

The Health Secretary said the Public Health Department has continued its work to control Tobago’s Aedes aegypti mosquito population, and appealed to residents to help the Division fight the further spread of the disease by keeping their surroundings clean.

Groome-Duke said an island wide cleanup campaign will commence on September 5 and advised the public not to dump white waste indiscriminately, which she stressed is illegal.

She said the public will be informed of the date and time for the collection of waste.

“We are going to ask the law enforcement and police to assist us in ensuring that we obey the law,” the Secretary stated. “We really want us to work together. Please do not dump your stuff out there indiscriminately. We are working together on this. It is a serious matter and we have taken our jobs very seriously.”

She also congratulated the public health team, which has been working in the communities to get rid of mosquitoes.