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Today another Zika sensitization meeting was held but this time the Belize City Council was involved. This morning at City Hall 3 health officials gave a presentation on the Zika virus to the city council. For some of you, these meetings may seem redundant given that there are no confirmed cases in Belize and it's pretty much the same information we have been reporting on since cases of the virus began exploding all around us. But health officials say nothing is redundant when it comes to public health. Here are just a few comments from the presentation regarding the transmission of the virus and the symptoms

Dr. Javier Zuniga - Reg. Manager, Central Health Region

"Zika is a virus and it belongs to a family of virus known as flavivirus and it is transmitted by a vector and that vector is known as the Aedes Aegypti mosquito. I'm sure you're familiar with the Aedes Aegypti mosquito because it also transmits dengue and chikungunya. The symptoms include slight fever, headache, very important with Zika is a non-purulent conjunctivitis. What do we mean by non-purulent, when we have discharge from the eyes, when you have a pink eye that's a purulent discharge but on this case there is no purulent discharge so its dry but the eye is red. Aching joints just like dengue, chikungunya, heat rash could also appear muscular pain, general discomfort and very important is that it causes vertical transmission. What does that mean; it means that it is passed from mother to child."

Another issue raised at the presentation was the link between Zika and Microcephaly. Zuniga said more research still needs to be done on that to be able to confirm it. Now there are several articles that debunk that link and claim Microcephaly – specifically cases in Brazil - are linked to increased exposure to pesticides in the water - not Zika. Zuniga says that has not been proven either.

Now what is the role of the city council in this case? Mayor Darrell Bradely told us the city council actually has a crucial role in educating the public about what they need to do to be safe.

Darrell Bradley - Mayor, Belize City

"We work very closely with the Ministry of Health and this morning was a sensitisation meeting between personnel from the Ministry of Health and also the key players in the various departments of the Belize City council. As was said by the presenters from the Ministry of Health, there is a significant aspect of this that has to do with a community response and stakeholder involvement and that's where the city council plays a very pivotal role. One of the things that was addressed in the meeting is the need for citizens participating in cleaning their yards, the aspect of clearing out areas which can hold water breeding for the Aedes Aegypti mosquito. The aspect of ensuring that the city on a whole in kept clean, the idea of cooperating with the spraying for the mosquitos and drain cleaning and so forth. So that when the Ministry of Health works with us and talk about these issues, this is where the city council really needs to step up its game."

Bradley re-iterates that Belize is not in crisis but that it's important to be aware.