The number of reported dengue fever cases continues to fall and remains under the identified numbers that would constitute an outbreak, which is five cases per week for two consecutive weeks. For the months of January and February, confirmed dengue fever cases stood at 19.
Dengue Action Response Team (DART), the Island Governments multidisciplinary team will continue to monitor and meet randomly to review data collected in the field.
Commissioner of Public Health Maria Buncamper-Molanus fully supports the call made by the Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), calling on all countries in the Americas to increase their efforts and work together in the fight against dengue, which has broken out in almost every country in the Americas.
Mosquito surveillance and control personnel from the Department of Hygiene & Veterinary Affairs have an important preventive role to play during non-outbreak periods, but the community also has a role and is expected to be proactive in taking the necessary preventive actions that have been publicized and promoted during the heightened public awareness campaign.
Mosquito control workers cannot eliminate mosquito breeding in all homes and businesses, so an important element of dengue management is the education of members of the public about their role in eliminating mosquito breeding at home and protecting themselves from dengue. This campaign will continue in the months to come.
The objective of this campaign during a non-outbreak period involves informing the general public about the risk of outbreaks and the importance of regular mosquito control.
The population level education strategy about dengue prevention is designed to create and maintain awareness and motivation within the community.
The house-to-house/yard campaign will resume in April and will run for a three month consecutive period. The Hygiene Department has a working relationship with the environmental inspector who will be available to issue fines when inspection crews come across unsanitary conditions.
The Hygiene Department is calling on households and businesses to start tidying up around their yards and premises before the campaign starts and avoid having to pay a fine.
Dengue is a mosquito-borne infection that causes a severe flu-like illness that affects infants, young children and adults, but seldom causes death.
Persons experiencing dengue fever-like symptoms should visit their family physician. Persons should also follow-through by going to the lab to have a dengue fever test carried out to determine if they actually have the virus. This is one way to ensure the registration of dengue fever numbers.
To keep dengue fever numbers on the downward trend, it calls for each resident to change his/her behavior by keeping their immediate surrounding mosquito free. Those who require additional information about preventive actions should contact the Hygiene Department at 542-2079.
