NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – Bahamas health authorities have confirmed the death of a nine-year child from dengue fever as the country experiences an outbreak of the mosquito-borne disease.

“He presented with a viral type illness but did not continue with the care that was provided and, unfortunately, he succumbed to the illness,” chief medical officer Dr Pearl McMillan told a news conference.

“We later got the results back and we know that it was dengue,” she said, adding that the country is now facing an outbreak of dengue fever.

Health and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville said there are 88 cases of dengue, up from 70 cases last week.

He told reporters that the majority of the cases are in New Providence, with Berry Islands and Exuma reporting one case each and six cases being confirmed on Grand Bahama.

He added that the cases on Exuma and the Berry Islands were imported from New Providence.

The health authorities are warning residents to take precautions to prevent the spread of the dengue, including turning over any buckets or containers outside their homes.

Environment Minister Vaughn Miller said his ministry is engaged in vector control and Dr Darville said a vector control team will travel to Exuma.

Dengue is spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito and the symptoms include headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, rash, aches, and pains such as eye pain, muscle, bone and joint pain.

The Bahamas last experienced a significant virus outbreak in 2011, with 205 confirmed and 7,200 suspected cases.