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Guyana records highest dengue fever cases in ten years
– maintains intense monitoring of the situation
Dr. Leslie Ramsammy
Following an outbreak of dengue fever in Trinidad, the Ministry of Health has intensified its surveillance of the infection across the country.
Health Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy has instructed all health care facilities, including private hospitals, physicians and laboratories, to report all suspected cases of dengue to the Ministry of Health.
In a release, the ministry said a special surveillance officer has been assigned for more than a year now to coordinate the analysis of all dengue reports from around the country.
Minister Ramsammy added that a daily dengue report is prepared for his ministry and for the Chief Medical Officer.
In this regard, it was noted, the ministry has recorded more than 300 cases of dengue so far this year.
It was explained that this is the highest recorded number of dengue cases for this decade.
According to Minister Ramsammy, this high number reflects the successes in surveillance and in more testing being done; and, therefore, might be reflecting a better system and capacity for testing, diagnosis and reporting.
He noted that all reported cases of dengue are tracked by the Ministry of Health through a special surveillance team.
One of the actions the ministry has pursued is to ensure laboratory confirmation of all reported cases. In addition, the Ministry of Health has distributed treatment guidelines to both the public and private health sector practitioners, to ensure patients are receiving an adequate standard of treatment.
He noted that while cooperation from the private sector is far from optimal, the ministry has been comforted by the enthusiastic support of the majority of private sector entities.
Where dengue cases have been identified, the minister noted, visits to the communities are done, as far as possible, to ensure advice and recommendations for families are provided, particularly as they relate to environmental control.
Meanwhile, Dr Ramsammy urged the relevant bodies to do their part in controlling the mosquito population.
He explained that, for decades, Guyana has not done a remarkable job when it comes to vector control. “Since the initial successes in the 1950s and early 1960s, when Guyana used DDT to control the mosquito population on the coast, Guyana has done a relatively poor job of controlling the mosquito population,” the minister said.
In this regard, Ramsammy blamed the authorities with the mandate for vector control, who he noted have often refused to perform these duties.
“The municipalities are major offenders in this respect,” Ramsammy said.
He noted that the ministry has often been forced to take on these functions, as he explained that, over the last several years, the Ministry of Health has been forced to undertake fogging exercises in the municipality of Georgetown and in large parts of Region Four.
“Just prior to CARIFESTA, the Ministry of Health completed its second fogging exercise for the year in Georgetown and in parts of the East Bank and East Coast. We are embarking on a third fogging exercise, beginning on October 1, for parts of Region Four and for Georgetown.”
Presently, the ministry is working with the Ministry of Local Government to meet with Regional Democratic Council chairpersons, Regional Education Officers, and municipalities to discuss a comprehensive vector control program to be implemented in 2009 in all regions of Guyana.
Minister Ramsammy said that such a program is necessary for Guyana to continue its gain in the fight against malaria and in ensuring that dengue is kept at bay.
He noted that it is also important for Guyana’s ambition that filariasis be eliminated, and to ensure emerging diseases such as West Nile do not come to Guyana.
The ministry has worked with PAHO/WHO as it relates to dengue fever, and Guyana is about to complete a comprehensive anti-dengue program strategy in November.
It was noted that Guyana is one of the few countries that have been spared the wretchedness and agony of deaths due to dengue.
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