The St Kitts and Nevis government is now on alert for a potential dengue outbreak after the country recently experienced an increase in rainfall associated with the passage of Tropical Storm Philippe.
A statement issued by the country’s Ministry of Health further noted that increase in rainfall is often associated with an increase in mosquito vector levels and an increase in risk of spread of mosquito-related diseases such as dengue, zika and chikungunya.
“The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) has reported an upsurge in laboratory confirmed cases of dengue in the region and dengue outbreaks have been reported in three CARPHA member states,” the ministry said in its statement.
It added: “Dengue viral infection is caused by the dengue virus which is transmitted mainly by female mosquitoes of the species, Aedes aegypti which is prevalent in the Federation. St Kitts – Nevis is at risk for a dengue outbreak.”
The Ministry of Health said through its Environmental Health Departments, it will seek to strengthen its mosquito surveillance efforts to reduce the risk of mosquito-related diseases.
The ministry said that the Federation had reported three laboratory confirmed cases of dengue during this past week.
Dengue in the Caribbean
Several other Caribbean countries, most notable, Barbados, Guyana and Jamaica, have reported an outbreak in dengue fever in recent times.
Read more:
- Dengue fever outbreak in Barbados confirmed by health ministry
- Jamaica records one dengue-related death
- Dengue claims lives of school children in Guyana
Dengue is a flu-like illness that affects infants, young children and adults. Symptoms usually begin four to 10 days after being bitten by a dengue infected mosquito. The symptoms include high fever, headaches, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pains and skin rash.
The illness can evolve into severe dengue, characterized by intense and continuous abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, and mucosal bleeding.
So far, one person has died of the infection in Jamaica, while in Guyana, two children succumbed to dengue infections.
– CMC
