Ministry of Health: Dengue fever ‘no cause for alarm’ in SVG

Epidemiologist in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Jennifer George, says that the number of dengue fever cases diagnosed in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is no cause for alarm.{{more}}

George, in an interview with SEARCHLIGHT on Wednesday,, said, however, the public has to do its part to ensure that the disease does not spread.

According to George, there have been five reported cases of dengue fever in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

This, she said, is not unusual.

“In previous years, we’ve had around ten to twelve cases of dengue fever, but that’s okay because we have Aedes Aegypti and we have people who can become affected, she said.”

“Regionally, we have been having abnormally high cases of dengue in Trinidad, Belize, Guadeloupe, Cayman Islands, and these are countries that usually have dengue fever, but the incidence of cases has increased six to tenfold.”

The disease, which is spread by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, is caused by the flavivirus, with four strains, or serotypes, found in the region.

Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever is the more severe type of dengue fever, with symptoms including flu like symptoms, headaches, retro orbital pains (pain behind the eyeball), muscle and joint pain, fever and gastro intestinal occurrences.

George noted that the disease cannot be spread from human to human; only through the bite of the mosquito.

She added that dengue fever would be present in any population where the mosquito exists in high numbers, and where there are persons who are not immune to any of the serotypes and who come into contact with the mosquito.

The disease has no preference for age, sex or race for its victims.

According to George, the public, together with the Public Health Department in the Ministry of Health, has a part to play in the control of the disease.

“The key to preventing the dengue is (stopping) the propagation of the mosquito… many have heard of our drums and tires being the main reservoirs where the mosquito can breed.”

“We are appealing to the public to turn over their barrels, screen them or cover them to minimize the water reservoirs that they have in their yards.”

George also advocated the use of insect repellent and mosquito nets as a way to reduce bites.

She highlighted that the vector control unit is currently on a campaign of spraying areas with chemicals in an effort to kill the mosquitoes’ eggs, and indicated that a fogging campaign is expected to begin in the near future.

“The whole cycle of the egg developing to an adult takes seven to ten days. The Vector Control Unit works within that cycle to keep Aedes Ageypti to a minimum by doing that.”

The doctor noted, however, that it has been observed that the mosquito, which usually breeds in clean water, is now laying eggs in dirty and stagnant pools, and that the eggs have been able to live longer in dryer areas, only to begin their cycle when water is introduced.

She said that despite this, the disease can still be kept at a minimum if people work along with the Ministry to prevent reproduction where possible. (JJ)