MARIGOT/Philipsburg: ---The Island of St. Martin / St. Maarten is currently in another phase of dengue epidemic since there has been an increase in the number of confirmed cases of dengue on both sides of the island. According to results released from the Prefecture there has been a rapid increase during the first week of October that stands at 230-suspected cases, these figures they said dropped to 150 the following week.Even though the confirmed cases has dropped to 27 during the weeks 39 to 41.
Some eight persons were hospitalized during the month of September, a 37 percent of severe cases.
While on the Dutch side via the Dengue Action Response Team (DART) a multidisciplinary planning team, confirmed on Thursday that from October 1 to the 18, there are now 72 laboratory confirmed dengue cases, and this figure may go over 100 before the end of October.
The DART Team is requesting immediate measures be taken by every household as the outbreak grows. The only way to stop the dengue outbreak from growing is by every household taking mosquito breeding preventive action. By taking measures, you are protecting your family from getting dengue fever.
The Island Government has approved an emergency budget of over Naf.300, 000 to cover a number of interventions related to the national outbreak. The DART Team met Thursday morning to review strategies and to adapt them accordingly. An intensification of intervention activities is currently underway and will be more noticeable as of next week and the weeks ahead.
The Hygiene Department has resumed fogging exercises. Areas last completed were Cay Hill and the Cul de Sac Basin. Scheduled are Pointe Blanche and the Philipsburg area. Fogging activities are dependent on good weather. If there is rainfall, this vector control measure will be suspended.
Preventive actions that every household should take are: Debris, old tires and standing clear/clean water in yards are the main source and breeding ground for mosquitoes bringing about an increased risk of mosquito-borne diseases. These areas should be immediately eliminated.
Immediately check for clear/clean standing water in roof spouts, empty drums, buckets, jars, birdbaths, boats, plant containers, saucers, paint cans and other items that can collect water around your homes and businesses. Where clear/clean standing water exists, one can use small amounts of kerosene, just to cover the surface as a measure to prevent mosquito breeding or just get rid of the container.
In the case of where containers are used for storing water, residents should keep these properly covered and check every three days to make sure that mosquito's have not laid any eggs. Inlets and outlets of cisterns must be covered with a mosquito net or cloth to prevent mosquitoes from breeding in the water.
Dengue is a mosquito-borne infection that causes a severe flu-like illness that affects infants, young children and adults, but seldom causes death, however two persons have died since the outbreak and therefore you are urgently advised to take immediate measures to protect your family.
There are three serotypes of dengue circulating on the island, namely DEN-1, DEN-2 and DEN-4. This also increases the risk for Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF), which is potentially deadly, and Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS), which if not treated correctly, can lead to profound shock and death.
Residents are strongly advised to continue to take urgent preventive action against mosquito breeding in order to stem the increase in the number of dengue cases on the island.
Anyone requiring information concerning measures to prevent mosquito breeding or to report areas of standing water, overgrown vegetation etc should immediately call the Hygiene Department at 542-2079.
