![](http://www4.guardian.co.tt/sites/default/files/field/image/ZIKA%20GARDENS.jpg)
Samples from two other people, a mother and son, have been taken to determine if they are also carriers of the Zika virus.
The results are expected to be known by next Monday.
The announcement was made by Chief Medical Officer Dr Clive Tilluckdharry at a press briefing held by the Ministry of Health at its office in Park Street, Port-of-Spain, yesterday.
Tilluckdharry said the woman, a 60-year-old teacher, and her son, both from Central, had displayed symptoms of the virus.
Samples were taken on Wednesday and sent for testing.
“I myself had to take samples of two persons from the Freeport area to Carpha (Caribbean Public Health Agency) for testing.
“The person had headache, chills, rash which she got last Saturday...like measles on her face and abdomen because Zika in some cases presents like measles. I personally think it is more chikungunya than Zika but I am awaiting confirmation.
“One of her sons was ill the week before and had to get IV fluids by a GP (general practitioner). Within two days he returned and had to get another set of IV fluids,” Tilluckdharry said.
He said the private doctor who presented the sample which resulted in the first confirmed case of Zika in the country was well aware that the Aedes aegypti mosquito was also the carrier of the dengue and chikungunya viruses.
“The particular patient had joint pains followed by fever with a rash distributed mainly in the lower abdomen. You also get this with chikungunya,” Tilluckdharry added.
In giving an update on that patient who is from Diego Martin, he said the 61-year-old victim who had recently travelled to New Zealand was now “well and fully” recovered.
Other family members who had visited the home were also well and neighbours who were also checked were deemed free of the virus, Tilluckdharry said.
Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh yesterday corrected statements previously made that New Zealand was Zika free.
“In retrospect that is not exactly true. New Zealand is a country free from the Aedes aegypti mosquito. But they do have some cases of imported Zika from neighbouring Pacific islands,” Deyalsingh said
On whether the woman could have contracted the virus while in New Zealand, Tilluckdharry said the woman who had made stops in Chicago and Fort Lauderdale became symptomatic on February 10, which was about 16 days after she returned from New Zealand.
“Incubation period for the Zika virus is between three to 12 days so it is highly unlikely that this patient picked up the virus in New Zealand; so it is most likely a local case so there may be other cases,” Tilluckdharry said.
He said it was difficult to produce a vaccine for the Zika virus as the Aedes aegypti mosquito was also the carrier of dengue and chikungunya.
“The Aedes aegypti is well distributed throughout T&T so we are well susceptible to the Zika virus.
“Just like dengue and chikungunya, Zika presents headache, fever, joint pain with a rash, in some cases red eyes, vomiting and diarrhoea. So it’s non-specific,” Tilluckdharry said.
He urged that all vector-borne diseases be gotten rid of by eradicating the Aedes aegypti mosquito.
On whether the ministry was warning women not to get pregnant, Deyalsingh said this remained a personal decision.
He said the ministry has ramped up its inspection and fogging exercises throughout the country.