Focus on vector control as flood waters subside

Jan 27, 2009 News

Although the incidence of flood-related ailments have subsided, and most of the health teams dispatched into the field last month have been recalled, the Ministry of Health is still on high alert for vector-borne diseases.
According to Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy, at his most recent press conference, while the flooding condition may have passed, the public health problems have not left with the waters. He added that there are different issues that the health sector is now confronted with.
“One of the problems we have to look at right now is that during heavy rainfall the mosquito population does not go up, but it does go up post-rainfall. So we are in that period, and therefore vector control issues are now the primary focus for us.”
According to the minister, Dengue Fever is one of the main diseases that are being monitored by the ministry.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Shamdeo Persaud disclosed last week that the number of dengue cases recorded for this year is more than is normally expected at this time.
He disclosed that, for the first two weeks of the year, the ministry recorded 35 cases, as opposed to 15 for the same period last year.
And about 80 per cent of the cases, according to Minister Ramsammy, were detected in Region Nine and Region Four (Georgetown/East Coast) areas.
Reports from the health sector are that the situation is being monitored even more seriously in the Region Nine area, which is bordered by neighbouring Brazil which is believed to have an epidemic situation.
In the meantime, the presence of about eight health teams in the field has been reduced to two teams, the minister disclosed.
“For obvious reasons, we will have minimal presence in the community and we will resort back to the main services being provided by the health centres and the hospitals. We will still have teams in the field, but we will not have large numbers of people going out on a daily basis into the communities.”
The new strategy was brought into effect because all of the conditions that were being monitored by the Health Ministry throughout the period of flooding, such as Acute Respiratory Infection and skin conditions, have all been reduced, according to the minister.
He added, too, that the cases of leptospirosis have reverted to sporadic cases, as was experienced during the earlier part of last year, prior to the rainy season.
As at last week, the report from the Health Ministry was that the total number of suspected leptospirosis cases during the rainy spell had amounted to about 46, with a total of 13 being confirmed.
According to information from the Health Ministry, five deaths were associated with the disease, of which two were positively linked to leptospirosis after post mortem examinations were conducted.

Latest News

Focus on vector control as flood waters subside

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | November, 20th, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Battle for Glory: Petra-MVP Sports Girls U11 Football Championship...

Dinar Trading and Forrester’s Concrete solidify...

Linden vs. Georgetown rivalry takes centre stage...

Diamond Mineral Water Indoor Hockey Tournament...

Top athletes and officials recognized at 2023...

Guyana Beverages Inc. partners with GFF for Maid...

Features/Columnists

The Windfall Tax paradox

Rising Gun Crimes in the Caribbean: Urgent Action required by all

What sense third parties, then

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

Focus on vector control as flood waters subside

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | November, 20th, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]