National Reference Laboratory still not testing for mosquito-borne diseases

– amid surge of dengue, Zika

Although it was announced that the National Public Health Reference Laboratory would commence testing for Zika and other mosquito-borne viruses, blood samples from suspected cases are still being sent overseas for testing.

The Public Health Ministry had declared that the Laboratory, which was expected to start testing for mosquito-borne viruses years ago, would commence testing soon, since it has two trained medical technologists working at the facility. However, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) continues to receive samples for testing.

Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton, stated that the Laboratory has been constrained by a shortage of consumables to test for the different viruses.

“We are concerned about this matter, particularly that we are unable to test for Zika, since it is on a rise,” he said.

The CARPHA had trained the two Guyanese medical technologists attached to the National Public Health Reference Laboratory to test for the three vector-borne diseases. Shameza Ally Sonaram and Johanna Vaughn had completed training at the agency on operating equipment to test vector-borne diseases and were expected to work along with a number of other specialist staff identified by the Ministry to perform specific duties in helping them complete these tests.

Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud had stated that the Laboratory would be the principal testing site. “We had the intention to build capacity level at our National Public Health Reference Laboratory, but, of course, you know these lab tests are very specific, and not only require special skills, operators and technicians, but also require special equipment,” he said.

So far, there have been 5375 reported cases of Chikungunya, with 264 confirmed cases, and 35 confirmed cases of Zika in Guyana. There are also 303 confirmed cases of dengue fever in Guyana.

The rise in these vector-borne diseases had influenced the move towards facilitating local testing.