Staff Writer

July 31, 2023 – Dengue is on the rise and the region of the Americas is most affected according to the World Health Organization (WHO) with nearly THREE million suspected and confirmed cases this year.

In an update on July 19th, the WHO described the outbreaks as of ‘significant magnitude’ have been recorded regionally. The numbers seen in the first seven months already eclipse the entire year of 2022 which saw 2.8 million cases. Of the cases this year, 45 percent were lab confirmed.

The number is dangerously close to the highest year on record (2019), which saw 3.1 million cases.

Thankfully, the number of severe cases are extremely low with only 0.13 percent classified as severe dengue. The death rate is also low, recorded at 0.04 percent or 1,302 deaths. The worst affected areas remain in South America, specifically Brazil, Peru and Bolivia.

The WHO is warning however, that the regional risk of outbreak is high because of the high prevalence of the mosquitos (especially Aedes Aegypti) which are carriers.

The Turks and Caicos has already completed one round of mosquito fogging exercises this summer in an attempt to control the vectors that spread dengue fever throughout the population.

Dengue, also called break-bone fever, spreads from mosquitoes to people. The WHO says most people who get dengue won’t have symptoms. But for those that do, the most common symptoms are high fever, headache, body aches, nausea and rash.

In order to lower your risk of dengue, you must avoid mosquito bites.

Effective ways include sleeping under mosquito nets, using mosquito repellents and preventing mosquito breeding by getting rid of garbage that can facilitate standing water collection and caring for drains properly so they don’t clog.

Staff Writer 

#TheBahamas, July 2, 2023 – As the rainy season begins and mosquitos become more frequent visitors, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) representative for The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos, Dr. Eldonna Boisson, is assuring residents that both countries are well prepared to fight mosquito borne diseases, especially dengue fever.

She spoke to Magnetic Media recently detailing what the two countries had been doing.

“There has been really good preparedness in terms of detecting early which is key, if you can detect early then you can prevent spread, you can treat early to prevent illness,” she said.

Boisson explained that important steps included labs being able to detect the illness, hospitals and clinicians having the necessary equipment and medication to treat diseases.  She said those things are in place for the two countries.

“Those things are in place, there is ongoing surveillance– behind the scenes.  If you’re not having many cases people don’t know all the effort that goes in.”

While numbers were relatively low in the region, she warned that with the rainy season coming up residents could never be too careful but once again assured that the Governments were putting in the work.

“Later in the year there’s going to be some training.  PAHO is putting on some training for the Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas in Vector Control,” she explained.

The Turks and Caicos has already started fogging exercises with one round completed since June.

            Mr. Davis, who is also the Mayor of Montego Bay, said the project will be executed with support from the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, with each of the 17 divisions across the parish allocated $250,000. 

            The Mayor’s Office will also receive $250,000. 

            Councillor Davis was addressing the Ministry of Health & Wellness St. James Town Hall Meeting, at the Montego Bay Cultural Centre in Sam Sharpe Square on February 6.

            “In addition, a $10-million programme is to be rolled out soon in which a major public education and sensitisation programme will be executed across the parish of St. James,” the Mayor outlined.

            “This programme is aimed at ensuring that all citizens understand the role they must play in this fight against the vector-borne illness,” he added.

            The town hall meeting was used to provide updates on developments in St. James and western Jamaica, particularly activities being undertaken in relation to dengue and the novel coronavirus.

            Mayor Davis lauded Health Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, for continuing to outfit the sector with much-needed resources to assist vector-control programmes in St. James and Jamaica on a whole.

            “I urge you all to make a commitment to join the fight against vector-borne and airborne diseases. I encourage you to keep your environment clean and dispose of your garbage in a responsible way,” Mr. Davis told the audience.

            “Dispose of your garbage, not in gullies but in bins provided by the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA). In doing that, we will make our environment a much safer place,” he added. 

JIS PRESS RELEASE

Dengue Fever was the first of the three mosquito born viruses to surface in the TCI, recorded in country since 2011.  There is no vaccine to treat Dengue Fever and we are reminded that symptoms include:  “fever, muscle and joint pains, excessive tiredness, headache and pain behind the eyes.  Nausea and vomiting may also occur.  A rare severe form of dengue fever, dengue hemorrhagic fever, presents with episodes of bleeding. The public is advised to seek medical attention at the nearest clinic facility if any of these symptoms are experienced.”

To help the situation, there are enhanced prevention and control measures already in place like public education, premises inspections, fogging and treating potential breeding sites such as swamps to prevent mosquito breeding.  We are asked to protect ourselves from mosquito bites.

#magneticmedianews  #denguefever  #mosquitobites