Dengue cases mount due to regional outbreak
(CNS): Local public health officials have confirmed that as of 7 November there have been 18 laboratory confirmed cases of Dengue in the Cayman Islands. Of those, nine were imported cases with the patients having a recent travel history, but the other nine were infected locally. Since the start of the year 97 cases have been investigated here largely due to an outbreak in Jamaica.
“The current outbreak of Dengue within our region continues to be the primary point of caution for us here in the Cayman Islands,” said Dr Nick Gent, Chief Medical Officer. “As we enter the holiday season and as people get ready to travel, we continue to remind our residents to take all the necessary precautions, which includes familiarising themselves with the Dengue situation at their destination.”
The Jamaican Ministry of Health & Wellness confirmed on Thursday that the country has on record “2763 suspected, presumed and confirmed cases of Dengue” as of 1 November, with 694 confirmed cases.
Samuel Williams-Rodriguez, Medical Officer of Health urged people planing a trip to Jamaica to take the necessary precautions. “Travellers heading to Jamaica should continue to monitor the situation in the country, adhere to all prevention methods, and ensure that they are seeking medical treatment if they become symptomatic during or after their visit,” he said.
Most people recover without any complications, from Dengue, using pain relievers and bed rest. Once a patient has developed a fever, the infectious period lasts for one week only. People are encouraged to use mosquito repellent, especially at dusk and dawn and to wear light long sleeve shirts and pants to prevent bites.
The MRCU advises residents to empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or throw out items that hold water, such as tires, buckets, planters, toys, pools, birdbaths, flowerpots, or trash containers in their yards one per week.
For more information contact the Public Health Department on 244-2648, the MRCU on 949-2557 in Grand Cayman or 948-2223 in Cayman Brac and the department of environmental health (DEH) on 949-6696 in Grand Cayman or 948-2321 in Cayman Brac.
Category: Health, Medical Health
Customs and Border Control with MRCU should be screening inbound passengers with a health questionnaire and attestation form, for anyone coming in from a country with WHO reported active Dengue, Encephalitis, Yellow Fever, or other active Aedes Aegypti vector pathogen outbreak…at a minimum. Being responsible should be neither overly intrusive to passengers or an extra level of security from those entrusted with it.
Don’t blame this on neighboring countries – without the vector Aedes aegypti there would be no local transmission (9 known cases so far) of Dengue in the Cayman Islands. Pay back for MRCU’s expensive but failed Aedes aegypti Eradication Program. Where’s the accountability?
The MRCU has never sought to eradicate the established mosquito species. Their job is to limit their problematic habitat and interaction with humans. They do a good job with the very little they are given as an operational budget. Previous PPM spendthrifts had cut them down to <$250k a year at one point.
Good news report.
Many people are traveling to Jamaica this weekend for the Monday holiday.
I have to go next week for a conference and now I will pack mosquito spay!
Thanks for the heads up!
Jamaicans and Hondurans bringing the problems as usual no doubt.