Section General Public Health (SGPH), an organization that is part of the Collective Prevention Services (CPS) of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour, is appealing to residents to heighten their efforts to eradicate mosquito breeding places.
Dengue has broken out in a number of Caribbean, Central and South American countries including Belize, Guyana and Suriname. Jamaica has reported 1215 suspected dengue cases and five suspected deaths with the death of a seven-year-old last Sunday who is suspected to have had the virus.
The Jamaica Ministry of Public Health has declared a dengue outbreak noting that there was a rapid increase in both the clinically suspected cases of dengue and laboratory confirmed cases.
The Cayman Islands Medical Officer of Health, has confirmed seven local cases of dengue, and of the seven, three have reported a travel history to countries with existing cases of the disease.
At least six people have died from dengue fever in Puerto Rico, including two children under the age of 10. Puerto Rico's health department recently declared a dengue epidemic.
Residents and business owners need to search in and around their homes and workplaces for Ades Aegypti mosquito breeding sites and destroy them. Mosquitoes have the potential to transmit dengue and chikungunya fever.
Taking measures to fight dengue is also part of the Minister of Public Health's 'Get Checked' campaign, and residents should check their surroundings carefully for possible breeding places.
Dengue is a mosquito-borne infection that causes a severe flu-like illness that affects infants, young children and adults. Chikungunya (CHIK) fever is an emerging, mosquito-borne disease caused by an alphavirus, Chikungunya virus (CHIKV).
Clear stagnant water in old tires and other types of debris in yards can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Immediate measures should be taken after rain events to make sure there is no clear/clean stagnant water in their yards; disposing of responsibly old tires, empty drums, plant containers, paint cans and other items that can collect water around their homes and businesses.
An increase in the mosquito population puts residents at risk. In the case of where containers are used for storing water, residents should keep these covered. Inlets and outlets of cisterns must be covered with a mosquito net or cloth to prevent mosquito breeding.
