77 dengue cases

BY ALICIA DUNKLEY Senior staff reporter dunkleya@jamaicaobserver.com

Wednesday, August 04, 2010

JAMAICA recorded 77 laboratory-confirmed dengue cases up to July 24, as the virus continues its march across Central American and Caribbean countries.

Health Minister Rudyard Spencer told journalists at a press briefing at Jamaica House in Kingston yesterday that of the 77 cases, seven have been confirmed as of the more severe form of the illness -- the dengue haemorragic fever. Spencer, however, said no cases of dengue shock syndrome have been reported so far nor any related deaths.

The parishes of Kingston and St Andrew account for 12 of the 77 cases, Portland two, St Mary five, St Ann four, St James four, Hanover two, St Elizabeth three, Manchester 14, Clarendon eight, and St Catherine 11. The location of the others were not ascertained.

There have still been no laboratory-confirmed cases for Trelawny, St Thomas and Westmoreland.

The health ministry, said Spencer, is on high alert in light of the growing number of cases of dengue fever and dengue haemorragic fever in the country and region. Consequently, he said, all parishes have intensified their fogging and oiling activities. Fogging is being carried out in approximately 800 communities across the island.

The minister said the ministry will also be launching a comprehensive public education programme to alert persons to the dangers of and preventative actions on dengue. He said a community youth dengue prevention intervention programme has also been developed, under which it is proposed that 1,200 young persons receive training to go into approximately 150 high-risk communities to provide house-to-house dengue prevention information and identify and destroy breeding sites.

Spencer, while reluctant to divulge how much it would cost to conduct the activities, admitted that it "would be a substantial amount and will cost a pretty penny". He, however, said monies have had to be diverted from other programmes to assist in the preventative efforts.

Meanwhile, the chief medical officer, Dr Sheila Campbell Forrester has assured that the health team is equipped to manage cases of dengue fever and are on high alert for signs and symptoms of the illness.

And Director of Emergency Disaster Management and Special Services in the Ministry of Health, Dr Marion Bullock DuCasse said the National Emergency Centre has been activated to direct and co-ordinate the prevention and control activities for dengue fever.

In March this year the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) issued an epidemiological alert for dengue for Central American countries, including Argentina, Brazil, El Salvador, Colombia, Paraguay, Puerto Rico and Honduras. Another alert was issued in July as the infection spread to Caribbean countries.

Dengue fever is caused by a virus transmitted from the Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes to humans. Symptoms vary and include the sudden onset of a very high fever, headache and pain behind the eyes. Persons may also experience non-specific symptoms, such as muscle ache, joint pains and nausea.

Anyone experiencing such symptoms is advised to visit a health-care provider to be accurately diagnosed.

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77 dengue cases