Last year there was an increase in the number of dengue cases, with the soaring outbreaks beginning in the Cayo District, and then statistics showed that it had declined. The problem was that the Ministry of Health had failed to speak about it and for that, they were heavily criticized. For that reason, Senior Public Health Inspector, Mark Bernard paid a visit to KREM WUB morning show, with the intention of educating people about the seriousness of dengue and the different measures people can take in order to avoid catching the virus.
“In the past six weeks, we have noticed an increase in the number of dengue cases. What happened is that whenever somebody goes to the hospital and the doctor diagnoses dengue, the report comes back to us and the Ministry has a statistical unit that looks at those figures, and when those figures rise, as with any other disease, it triggers … concern,” said Bernard.
Dengue is a serious viral disease which is transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito Aedes aegypti.
The mosquito gets the virus by biting an infected person. The first symptoms of the disease occur about 5-7 days after an infected bite. (Severe abdominal pains, black stools, bleeding on the skin or from the nose or gums, sweating)
There is no way to tell if a mosquito is carrying the dengue virus. Therefore, people must protect themselves from all mosquito bites.
Bernard said that the infection occurs in two forms: Dengue fever and Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever which according to Bernard can be fatal, in most cases if not treated.
This is because the Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) is a more severe form, in which bleeding and occasionally shock occur, leading to death, mostly in children: “There is no cure for dengue basically but there is treatment for its symptoms. But the concern is that there are four types of dengue. The more types of dengue you get, it increases your possibilities of becoming hemorrhagic and this can kill.”
In avoiding the spread of dengue, Bernard said that the Ministry is doing its best in educating people and schools about preventative measures: “As a result of the increase of dengue cases, we took preventative measures. We did some additional ULV spraying and extra spraying in drains and breathing sites. We also went to schools and talked about dengue as to heighten awareness.”
According to Bernard there are several preventative methods that people can exercise so as to prevent its spread and contraction: “Screen your rooms against mosquitoes or use mosquito nets, or use mosquito repellent; discard objects in which water collects, e.g. tins, cans, coconut shells, etc. Do not allow water to collect in pits around your houses. All stored water containers should be covered all the time. This will prevent breeding of dengue mosquitoes.”
Of note, Bernard stressed that it is not the responsibility of the Ministry to decrease the spread of infection, but that individuals should take the necessary precautions. “It is not the responsibility of the Ministry of Health; it is your responsibility to access the health system.”
Bernard also said that the Ministry is not advocating the spraying but that they have turned to clean-up campaigns.
He said that they along with the community have begun a clean-up in the Port Loyola area and are expected to do some cleaning in the Lake I area this coming weekend.
According to him the turnout has been fair, and he encourages people to take part in the campaign.