Yellow fever has been detected in monkeys in Trinidad and Tobago, health officials are preparing

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad - Health officials in Trinidad and Tobago have begun monitoring several parts of the country after yellow fever was confirmed in a monkey.

The Ministry of Health confirmed in a media statement that laboratory tests had identified the virus in the dead Red Howler monkey.However, officials confirmed that there have been no confirmed cases of yellow fever in Trinidad and Tobago at this time.

According to the ministry, surveillance and control measures have already been taken in the affected areas, and surveillance will continue as a preventive measure.

Over the past year, health officials in St. Kitts and Nevis and the Hemisphere in general have identified a number of countries in the Southern Hemisphere where cases of the disease have been reported.

Locally, the Ministry of Health has also announced that travelers arriving from certain destinations must provide proof of vaccination against Yellow Fever.

Yellow fever is a viral disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes, particularly the Aedes aegypti species.Health officials in Port of Spain have noted that non-human primates, such as red howler monkeys, often serve as early indicators of the presence of the virus in the environment.

Although no human cases have been identified, the confirmed case in a monkey demonstrates the need for vigilance and preventive measures.

The first symptoms of yellow fever usually appear three to six days after infection:

The ministry has urged the people of Trinidad and Tobago to take the necessary precautions when going out to avoid mosquito bites.Residents are also encouraged to reduce mosquito breeding areas around their homes as part of efforts to reduce the risk of infection.