Latest update March 11th, 2025 7:56 AM
CARPHA warns of possibility of severe dengue outbreak -Region urged to implement measures to reduce impact
A major regional dengue fever outbreak could occur in the near future.
This is the prediction of the Caribbean Public Health Agency [CARPHA], which is warning Caricom Member States to take precautionary measures to guard against the impact of such a development.
CARPHA, designated laboratory for Caricom Member States, yesterday announced that based on regional modeling, a dengue outbreak is very possible.
According to CARHPA, the last major regional outbreak of Dengue occurred in 2009. Since then, the Region has experienced two large outbreaks of mosquito-borne diseases, Chikungunya in 2014 and Zika in 2016, which are unlikely to recur soon. However, it has deduced that another regional outbreak of Dengue may occur in the near future.
This prediction is premised on the fact that in 2018, Latin America showed an increase in the number of Dengue cases and more recently, the outbreak of Dengue in Jamaica has elevated the level of concern in other Caribbean islands.
CARPHA is therefore advising Member States to implement enhanced measures to reduce mosquito breeding and prevent the spread of disease.
Dengue is a flu-like illness that affects mainly infants, young children and adults. Symptoms typically begin four to 10 days after infection, and include a high fever, headache, vomiting, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic skin rash. This illness can evolve to severe dengue, characterized by potentially deadly complications, such as internal haemorrhaging, intense and continuous abdominal pain or tenderness and persistent vomiting. In some cases, Dengue may be severe and even cause death.
CARPHA’s Executive Director, Dr. C. James Hospedales
Dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases threaten health, tourism, social and economic development, and a collaborative effort is required to reduce the spread of the disease, CARPHA has noted. The disease therefore remains a global health problem and like Zika and Chikungunya, there is no specific treatment for it.
The Aedes aegypti mosquito vector, which spreads Dengue, is present in all Caribbean territories, Guyana being no exception, due to their tropical predisposition.
The measures used for controlling the spread of Dengue are the same as those for Zika and Chikungunya as these diseases are also transmitted by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito.
With the arrival of the rainy season, mosquito control and awareness activities need to be intensified.
Moreover, Caribbean Ministries of Health are advised to: increase health promotion messages to prevent mosquitoes biting and breeding; combine efforts with communities to eliminate mosquito breeding sites; intensify vector surveillance and control, and disseminate appropriate clinical care and treatment guidelines
The most effective way to avoid becoming ill from viruses spread by mosquitoes is to prevent mosquito bites.
Research carried out by CARPHA and the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization [PAHO/WHO] show that drums and tyres are the main mosquito breeding sources in our countries.
“We all need to clean up our surroundings. The two most important things to manage mosquito populations in our Caribbean countries are to manage water storage drums and tanks, and properly dispose of used vehicle tyres to prevent mosquitoes breeding,” warned Dr. C. James Hospedales, Executive Director of CARPHA.
Action that can be taken too includes: covering drums and tanks, cleaning the guttering, removing stagnant water sources, such as old tyres, bottles and buckets, and individuals protecting themselves and their family from bites, CARPHA has advised.
“Infants, young children, older adults and women who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant should take extra precautions to avoid mosquito bites by using insect repellents containing DEET, Picaridin, IR 3535, and Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus,” according to CARPHA.
Added to this, it has noted that “individuals would also do well to work together with family, friends and neighbours to destroy breeding sites in and around their homes and communities to achieve total community impact.”
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
A tradition worth continuing
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- It is a wonderful thing to be reminded of a tradition, especially when that tradition is... more
If Guyana’s President Ali is the “Zelensky of the Caribbean”, who is the Putin?
Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the US and the OAS, Ronald Sanders By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- In the latest... more
Weekend Cartoon
