There needs to be a conversation about a woman’s right to an abortion considering the potential implications of the Zika virus entering T&T.
This is the opinion of gynaecologist Dr Sherene Kalloo, who spoke during an interview on the implications of the Zika virus on pregnant women.
In Brazil, almost 4,000 babies were born with a birth defect, microcephaly, in 2015, compared to 150 the previous year.
Health officials and research in the country have determined that the birth defect is associated with the Zika virus, which is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito that is also the insect vector for dengue and chikungunya, and according to doctors, the symptoms are very similar.
There is no vaccine on the market for the Zika virus.
Governments across the region, from Colombia to Jamaica, have begun advising women to delay pregnancy until the virus has been controlled.
This week Barbados confirmed three cases of the Zika virus in the country.
Symptoms last from four to seven days and include fever, conjunctivitis, headaches, muscle and joint pain, weakness, a red rash, and vomiting and eyeball pain.
Other symptoms are swelling of the lower limbs, diarrhoea and abdominal pain. The virus is typically non-fatal. The biggest threat it poses is to pregnant women.
Kalloo, a prominent doctor, says the research has made an association with first trimester pregnancies, the Zika virus and microcephaly.
“The advice is if you are planning to get pregnant or if you are pregnant you should not travel to the country where Zika is confirmed.
“I think it is wise to educate our people that even though the virus does not kill adults, they should avoid long-term complications in an ill baby and avoid getting the virus in the first trimester. Maybe this can be done by putting off or delaying pregnancy.”
Kalloo said the Carnival season usually saw an increase in pregnancy and noted the influx of foreigners coming from countries where the virus exists.
“The main thing is that we don’t want babies who nine months down the road will be a burden to mothers, families, and society and to themselves later on in life.
“The best advice is to avoid pregnancy until the virus is controlled because we do have the Aedes aegypti abundant in this country.
“If it is that a patient is known to be exposed to the Zika virus in pregnancy and visits a doctor, there is no treatment or vaccine or prevention once the virus is on board.
“She should be screened thoroughly for signs of microcephaly and I personally feel that a woman should be given an option as to whether to terminate a pregnancy or not.
“She needs to be told the risk because she has to deal with it.”
Kalloo said women should be allowed to make the decision “keeping in mind abortions are not legal in the country.”
An abortion can be legally performed in T&T, but only if the mother’s life is at risk. In such a case, the woman would need the consent of two consultants.
While Kalloo’s concerns lie with the health of mothers and their new-born infants, other countries are already advising on preventative measures.
Last week, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said the country needed to prevent the vector from spreading the virus.
He said there was a need to eliminate breeding sites. Other suggestions regionally include using mosquito bed nets which can also be treated with insecticide, wearing clothing that does not expose the skin and the use of wire mesh screens for windows and doors.
An official at the Insect Vector Control Division, in an interview yesterday, said the division was on the alert and actively working to prevent the virus from entering the country.
“We have been looking at different methods to control the spread of mosquito-borne viruses.
“We have been spraying as usual and employ different measures at the ports as well. We do inspections and treatments at least once every week. The main thing is to prevent them from entering.
“Once it gets in then it becomes difficult,” said the source at the division.
The division has started using two new methods of controlling the mosquito population this month—a chemical agent and a biological method.
ABOUT MICROCEPHALY
Microcephaly is a rare neurological condition in which an infant’s head is significantly smaller than the heads of other children of the same age and sex. Sometimes detected at birth, microcephaly usually is the result of the brain developing abnormally in the womb or not growing as it should after birth.