-urges those with fever to get tested
Two persons have died from dengue so far this year and Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony yesterday urged anyone experiencing fevers to go to the nearest health facility to be tested.
In an update on dengue, he noted that the entire region has been afflicted by the mosquito-borne diseases and disclosed that for this year so far, 11, 240 persons were tested, 2, 852 tested positive and 265 of these persons needed hospitalization. The figures reflect a positivity of 25.3%.
The minister noted that there were four dengue viruses and infection by one did not confer immunity for others.
Clinically, once infected, patients would be deemed to be in a febrile state which could last one to three days or in extreme cases, seven days.
Some people experience a more severe form of dengue and the critical phase is 24 to 48 hours. In this case plasma would leak into various parts of the body resulting in dehydration and there could also be bleeding. These persons can go into shock and require hospitalization. He urged that anyone experiencing these conditions to go to a hospital.
Anthony said that the most affected regions are 4, 2, 10, 6, 9 and one. He said that health ministry teams are in the various areas fogging and chemicals have also been supplied to kill larvae in stagnant water.
He said that this week there has been a decline in cases. He advised persons with fevers not to use aspirin as if it was a case of dengue it would exacerbate bleeding. He recommended the use of paracetamol for fevers.
He added that on Friday, distribution of impregnated nets would begin in regions 1, 7, 8 and 9 and the intention was to also arrest the spread of malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases in these areas.
In recent weeks there has been growing concern about dengue in various parts of the country.
The deaths of three children in the Berbice area have raised questions and a final determination has not been made in two cases. Dengue had been thought to be a possible cause of the deaths.
On Monday, it was disclosed that Region Six has so far recorded 440 dengue cases for the year and a 15-year-old was hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit at the New Amsterdam Public Hospital.
On Monday, Region Six Chairman, David Armogan said that there has been an increase in dengue cases within the region as he pointed out that there has been a mosquito infestation throughout the region. “In every place basically, so what we are doing we are intensifying the fogging exercise we have started”, he said.
Armogan noted that at one time the region only had two machines, however, the Ministry of Health has assisted the region with four additional fogging machines “and so now we will have six in the system and so what we are doing now we are putting together, we only have four vehicles which we are using currently, we are looking for two additional vehicles to rent so that we can do more fogging in more areas.”
Armogan said that for this week the exercise will be focused mostly on the New Amsterdam and Canje areas given that “we have many cases coming out of Canje, as you know there was this problem in regards to the two children that died, we are not sure whether it was dengue related or what but as the Minister himself said that some stuff was sent to the pathology lab for further investigation and then a determination will be made in terms of that.”
“We seem to have more problems than any other region when it comes to dengue cases, don’t know if mosquitoes like Region Six but it’s a problem and we are trying to deal with it.”
He added, “But there is no question about it, there has been an increase in dengue cases for the last couple of weeks and you’re seeing an increase in children because over the last month or so we have had quite a number of children coming in with dengue at the hospital some were admitted, some were treated and sent home.”
