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Over the past few weeks a significant number of persons have reportedly been experiencing gastrointestinal issues and flu like symptoms. And before you start to wonder whether it's covid you've contracted, Director of Public Health and Wellness, Dr Melissa Diaz Musa told us yesterday that the Ministry is monitoring the cases being reported, and they have drawn the conclusion that acute gastroenteritis called A- G - E and acute respiratory infections called A-R-Is are currently trending above their seasonal threshold.
Dr. Melissa Diaz, Director, Public Health and Wellness
"But you're right in saying that acute gastroenteritis which we call AGE and acute respiratory infections which is ARIS for short, we have been seeing an increase in these two infectious diseases over the last few weeks. They are not in the outbreak zone or they are not near the outbreak zone but a little bit over what we call a seasonal threshold so we do have endemic channels so channels that look at different diseases and it looks back at many years what the trends are. So in Belize for gastroenteritis there is an increase compared to last year in all districts more so Corozal and Orangewalk, and there's also an increase, slight increase in ARIS compared to last year. So most commonly it's AGE and the AGEs are commonly caused by viruses more so than bacteria so viruses like Moro virus Adeno Virus sometimes you would acute gastroenteritis in abroad nursing homes and in areas where communalism occurs and this is similarly what we are seeing in Belize in terms of the pathogen, viral pathogens causing the increase.
"But the message to the public with regards to AGE's and ARIS these are spread by droplets respiratory droplets similar to covid coughs colds can spread by sneezing by singing by talking close congregation and very similarly AGEs spread very similarly so we want to ensure that we enhance hand washing hygiene especially if you're in schools you've gone to the restroom ensure that you've washed your hands properly with soap and water these are the things that will help to reduce spread of viral infections."
