Local dengue case reported to HSA
(CNS): A local resident who has contracted dengue fever has no recent travel history, public health officials are warning as they urged people to take precautions against mosquito bites. Dengue, which is transmitted by the bite of Aedes aegypti, causing cyclical outbreaks every three years or so, is an infectious disease that can be deadly. CNS has asked in which district the resident became infected but officials have not responded.
Given the seriousness of the virus, which can also be transmitted from person to person via the mosquitoes, and as there is no vaccine or specific medication to treat it, everyone should take preventative measures, such as using a repellent, wearing protective clothing and staying indoors during early dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.
Public officials also warned that those who have been previously infected are at greater risk if they contract the fever again of dengue haemorrhagic fever or shock syndrome to develop a more severe, life-threatening form of the disease. “The best way to avoid dengue is to protect yourself from mosquito bites,” said Dr Samuel Williams, Medical Officer of Health.
The Mosquito Research Control Unit (MRCU) is undertaking surveillance and using periodic physical, biological and chemical control measures to reduce the numbers of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. But people are asked to assist in keeping mosquito numbers low by preventing water from collecting in their yards.
Residents are asked to remove stagnant water indoors as well as outside and to change water in vases, or under potted plants, and ensure air-conditioner drip trays are free of stagnant water.
Dengue infection is characterised by high fever, headache, pain behind the eyes, joint and muscle pain, and rash (may not be visible on dark-skinned people). If you have any of these symptoms you should go to the nearest health centre or hospital, do not take any medication that contains Aspirin, and drink lots of liquids. You should also encourage neighbours and family members to go to the nearest health centre or hospital if they or their family members have these symptoms.
For more information call the Public Health Department on 244
–2889 or 244-2621 or Faith Hospital on 948-2243.For advice on mosquito control measures contact the MRCU on 949-2557 or DEH on 949-6696 or 948-2321 in Cayman Brac.
For more information on dengue visit the CDC website
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Category: Health, Medical Health
There are multiple cases of persons with dengue all in East End, why has no one been made aware of this…
I just got an whatsapp that seems to be making the rounds – it says that MRCU confirmed a second dengue case. And that spraying will be stepped up … is MRCU going to go into people’s gardens and spray once again? The MRCU guys sprayed all the herbs and fruiting trees in our garden, despite there being no standing water around them – most of the neighbours were given no warning that it had occurred and happily consumed the herbs/veg/fruit!!! IS THIS GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN?
How come the govt has its own mosquito incubation pond in west bay where the new cop shop will be allegedly built? Ideal breeding conditions!!
Has it been confirmed by an independent lab or diagnosis made based on the symptoms? The Dump could be a source of all kind of viruses transmitted by insects. Since I won’t believe anything that Public Health Department says unless it is confirmed by an independent lab, I would remain skeptical to the actual dengue fever diagnosis.
From someone who has actually had dengue fever, more than once, allow me to explain a few things,
1. It makes zero difference how many thousand mosquitoes attack you in Newlands, East End, or anywhere else. The “swamp” mosquitos that attack you are not the carriers of this disease.
2. The carrier is Aedes egypti, It is a parasite of man, It can only survive in close quarters with people. Mostly sloppy people as it happens, those who leave old car tires strewn around, empty buckets, unserviced vases, etc. This mosquito cannot survive in the wild.
3. Want to get rid of Dengue? And Chikungunya and Zika, and a whole lot of others? Simple – Clean up your act! I guess it is politically incorrect to say this, but the entire problem is the direct result of what in my homeland of Jamaica we would call “butu- ism”. Nasty, dirty, lazy people with an attitude that this is somebody else’s fault. It isn’t.
And it astounds me that after decades of existence, the MRCU has not managed to get this simple message home: Dengue, Zika, and all those other diseases are in the hands of the complainers.
It is that simple.
I have never seen an Aedes egypti mosquito in my house in Lower Valley. They are fairly easy to identify. Look them up online. They are quite distinct from our regular “swamp” mosquitoes.
Caymannewsservice, please seek expert advice to prove me wrong on this, or hopefully, confirm that I am right. This issue is of profound importance to the health of the people of the Cayman Islands.
Truthseeker
Preach!
Details of this we’re going around on Friday so why is it only being reported on Monday? Also, why can they not even tell CNS, who is reporting on it on three days later, what district they came from? Typical nonsense from this government. Bring back Oxitech.
Because the district doesn’t matter. The point (herd immunity) is for everyone to be aware, everyone take precautions and then all local transmission risk gets reduced (hopefully back to zero).
What else is brewing in the depths of the Dump? What kind of bacterias, viruses, fungi, protozoa, parasites, and prions ? Rodents, insects, birds, chicken and dogs spread it around.
The infected patient is from East End; a long way from the dump.
Genetically modified dengue or regular?
Regular
A wild guess?
No, GMO bugs don’t transmit humans. Try reading the report next time before you get all up in arms about GMO and know nothing about it.
Idiot.
I think you’ll find it was a joke…
Not a good one and I doubt it. More like uneducated dribble. Like the mommy blogs pushing the anti vaxx movement.