My fellow residents of and visitors to the Virgin Islands, the recent announcement of five laboratory confirmed cases of the Zika Virus has understandably given rise to some concerns, but there is no cause for undue alarm. We have been monitoring the spread of this mosquito-borne virus across the Americas and the Caribbean region since local transmission was first reported in Brazil in May 2015. When local transmission was later detected in St. Maarten, Puerto Rico, and the neighbouring US Virgin Islands, we anticipated that it would not be long before the virus reached the shores of the BVI.

In an ongoing effort to protect the community from Zika, Dengue Fever and Chikungunya, the Environmental Health Division will be conducting fogging operations in Cane Garden Bay, Tortola on August 27 and August 29 at 5:30 a.m.

The Ministry of Health and Social Development has confirmed five cases of the Zika virus in the British Virgin Islands.

The public is invited to participate in the Caribbean Wellness Day Workforce run/walk set for Friday, September 9. Persons are encouraged to bring a co-worker, friend or family member. 

The Ministry of Health and Social Development is reassuring the community that there are no confirmed cases of Zika in the Territory.

The Ministry of Health and Social Development is moving towards developing a National Formulary following a workshop last week.  

Minister for Health and Social Development, Honourable Ronnie W. Skelton is pictured meeting with the evaluation team from the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) on July 7.

The Virgin Islands is on the verge of claiming the eradication of mother to child transmission of HIV with no reported cases within the last four years.

Food handlers participating in the festival activities are notified that exclusive food handler clinics will be held at the Training Division’s Conference Room in the Betteto Frett Building on July 12, 14, 20, 28 and 29. 

Road Town Festival booth owners are notified that construction of booths must be completed by 2:00 p.m. on Friday, July 22 to facilitate inspections by Environmental Health Officers.