Dengue mosquito
On November 1, information from the Ministry of Health confirmed that from Tuesday, October 25, “three of four specimens” submitted to the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC) “tested positive for the virus that causes Dengue Fever.”
Epidemiologist/Health Planner Dorothea Hazel said that two cases were from the Davy Hill area and the other from St Peters (with a history of recent travel to two Windward islands).
The health department immediately took action and the Surveillance Response team decided the following: that, “the Vector Control Team will continue larvicidal treatment in areas where suspected cases live or are known to spend considerable amounts of time
Symptoms of Dengue Fever
“Public awareness will be “stepped up” and sustained for a few weeks – encouraging a community based response. Members of the Team will provide information regarding reduction of vector breeding sites, family response when their household is affected, advice on when and where to seek medical attention etc.”
The Team also was to recommend that the targeted fogging that commenced late the previous week be replaced by an island-wide fogging exercise to commence immediately.
Miss Hazel urged the health staff to report all suspected cases of dengue fever to Garrett Stanley or Kranston Aymer (491 6057) or to Dorothea Hazel (491 2880) to enable a rapid response.
According to medical Personnel information material, Dengue Fever is a disease caused by a family of viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes. Symptoms such as headache, fever, exhaustion, severe joint and muscle pain, swollen glands and rash. The presence of fever, rash, and headache (and other pains) is particularly characteristic of dengue fever.
