With a dengue outbreak being declared in Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica spending millions of dollars to avoid a similar situation, Minister of Health Dr Leslie Ramsammy has said that Guyana faces a dengue outbreak threat and he has urged citizens to be careful and to keep their surroundings clean.
According to Dr Ramsammy, for the year so far there have been 1000 cases of dengue fever compared to 760 for the same period last year. However, he said there is no reason to panic since the health sector is well equipped to deal with any such crisis.
The minister said that the increase in the prevalence rate is a consequence of climate change and pointed out that certain tropical diseases would cause major problems in the future.
He said that over the years statistics have shown that the figures for dengue fever have risen and while Guyana has been luckier than other countries, citizens should not believe that they would not be affected.
Some private hospitals have reported seeing an increase in the number of dengue cases recently but contacted by this newspaper the hospitals refused to give figures, saying that the figures are given to the Ministry of Health and checks should be made there.
More breeding sites
It is feared that with the pile up of refuse in the city since the contracted collectors withdrew their services after City Hall failed to pay the $75M owing to them, the mosquitoes that cause dengue would have more breeding sites.
Last week Trinidad & Tobago’s Chief Medical Offi-cer, Dr Anton Cumberbatch declared an outbreak in the twin island republic following the deaths of three people from dengue haemorrhagic fever, the most serious form of the illness.
Tests were expected to be conducted to determine whether two other persons also died of the illness. In addition, the chief health officer confirmed 600 cases of dengue.
And yesterday the Jamaica Gleaner reported that a major thrust by the island’s Ministry of Health to prevent a dengue outbreak is putting an enormous strain on the state’s coffers. According to the report the island’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr Sheila Campbell-Forrester said that the ministry has spent millions of dollars on fogging, clearing breeding sites and carrying out public-education programmes in approximately 300 communities nationwide.
Campbell disclosed that 70 persons have been diagnosed with the disease island-wide since the start of the year, which has set off alarm bells.
Meanwhile, officers attached to the Human Services Ministry on Saturday visited the home of Barrat Dass, the husband of the late Hemwantie Indira Singh who passed away on Thursday at the Georgetown Public Hospital. Her cause of death had been given as dengue fever with leptospirosis being a contributing factor.
