The Ministry of Health wishes to inform the general public of an outbreak of Dengue occurring in Dominica at this time. Presently there are seven (7) confirmed cases and eighteen (18) suspected cases awaiting confirmation. There have been no reported deaths from Dengue Fever.
The beginning of the rainy season throughout the Caribbean Region has seen an increase in the dengue transmission in other Caribbean Islands.
Dengue is an infectious disease caused by a virus transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. You can get dengue fever if you are bitten by the mosquito which is carrying the virus.
Dengue fever is also called Break Bone Fever which can become a serious public health problem.
The Symptoms include high fever, intense headaches, severe joint and muscle pain, vomiting and a rash.
Sometimes some persons can present with the severe form of the disease known as Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever, in which there can be bleeding, under your skin, from your nose, gums, gut and damage to the liver. The bleeding can be massive causing Dengue Shock Syndrome, which can cause death.
To date there has been no reported severe case of the diseases in Dominica during this outbreak.
Persons presenting with signs or symptoms of dengue fever should seek immediate attention at the nearest health centre or contact their personal doctor.
The Ministry of Health advices the public to take precautionary measures to prevent the breeding of the aedes aegypti mosquito which carries the vector.
To prevent the spread of dengue fever, you must first prevent the breeding of its vector, the Aedes aegypti mosquito. It prefers to breed in clean, stagnant water, easily found in and around our homes.
You can get rid of the Aedes mosquito by frequently checking and removing stagnant water in your premises; by keeping your environment clean; covering all containers capable of holding water – (drums, cisterns, barrels and tanks); by keeping potted plants in wet soil and sand; by getting rid of all old tires. You may use them to landscape or grow vegetables.
You may protect yourself from mosquito bites by using a mosquito repellent and mosquito nets when sleeping.
The Ministry of Health has stepped up its activities in controlling the outbreak of dengue fever.
The General public is asked to remain calm and assist in fighting against the spread of dengue fever.
REMEMBER: PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE.
chemicals are used to kill mosquitoes but it can be dangerous for human beings specially babies,sick people and the elderly ….
it is very important to work on prevention such as ,piercing tins, cut through coconuts ;then turn upside down ,tie a piece of cloth on every tub that we put out to collect rain water,take of the plate base under flower pots ,keep tires in dry places,change water very often from flower pots,etc to prevent the mosquitoes from breeding …there are many houses that are still under construction with stagnant water inside which is used as a haven for mosquitoes;the water should be pushed out at list every week ….these houses are a major source for breeding due to the size of the surface…this problem concerns every body because mosquitoes can fly and can be carried by vehicles…it is the first time i have seen such an infestation in dominica and i am almost 50 years …
Not surprised with so many swamps and containers collecting water and rain, breeding mosquitoes in abundance!
I was recently on a business trip, had some down time so decided to take a walk going up the “One Mile” road from Portsmouth, and I was appalled at the amount of blocked drains with debris that people throw from their vehicles stopping the natural flow of water in the process. I could actually see drains with heavy overgrowth blocking the flow and so many mosquitoes; I have to say I’m not at all surprised there is an outbreak of Dengue in the area I mentioned but also throughout other parts of the island by all accounts.
I only mentioned this area because that is where I was attending a conference and based, hence me using my down time to explore and look around in the lovely weather and stumbled up this.
Please, please I’m pleading with all residents and the Environmental Health department, to look at your lovely island sort out the issues of blocked drains which breeds mosquitoes, as “your island is a gem” and I’d hate to see it tarnished with this impression from visitors.
All the very best and blessings.
When we will learn to take responsibility for our actions things will Change in this Country. When allu will learn to cover drums properly, seal septic tanks, bore holes in tyres, put flowers in soil and all the simple things the same vector control people asking allu to do on a daily basis there will be no cases
what about immunization for those viruses? Does the health Department in Dominica not provide those kinds immunity to protect people from those viruses?
Those mosquitoes are all over the place–we don’t know when we are about to get that sting from them, unless we feel that piercing pain–how is the health department helping to protect people apart from telling us: “They have stepped up in activities in controlling the outbreak of dengue fever”. What are the activities?
for those of you who are too young to know dengue has been around for ages,I had it once and I left Dominica a hundred years ago .people are more informed now , so just take precaution.
during my youth there was a health inspector nemed Mr hugh jno charles from the villaige of St joseph his job was to visit the west coast to inspect condition people were living in. today in 2013 do we have environment officers???
Anonymous I agree you my daughter feel sick I brought her to a doctor he told me is dengue he gave her medication next my husband got it I called the ministry of health instead of coming to check the area the lady wanted to know how the doctor knew is dengue they had now they telling u check yr doctor if u have symptoms. they told me they would come the next day I never saw them I then
got dengue stayed home on sick leave they never came and check the area they all just lazy and before it four o’clock clock out and before it month end they want to get paid
DNO, please include this warning in your article: “Persons who think they have dengue should use analgesics (pain relievers) with acetaminophen and avoid those containing ibuprofen, Naproxen, aspirin or aspirin containing drugs.” (http://www.cdc.gov/dengue/symptoms/). (This could lead to internal bleeding and death.
PS. ppl mosquitoes have been around even before the dinosaurs, so don’t think you can eradicate them now. Just keep your environment clean and protect yourself (The adult lifespan of the Aedes aegypti mosquito can range from two weeks to a month depending on environmental conditions. The average Aedes aegypti mosquito will disperse relatively short distances and travel no more than 500 metres, a little over a 1/4 mile, in its lifetime.)
@no name! We can’t move forward because people like you can’t spell retarded. So who really is retarded?
And they don’t have medicine on the island poor them
SORRY FOR SOME WORDS THAT ARE NOT SPELT RIGHT! I’m IN THE MEICAL FIELD, AND ALL OVER THE WORLD, THERE IS A LOT OF PAIN, FROM SO MANY DISEASES. WE HAVE TO HELP OURSELVES AND OTHERS.
CLEANLENESS IS NEXT TO GODLYNESS. THE MORE WE GET AWAY FROM GOD AND THE TRUTH, WE WILL DEFINATELY GET PUNISHMENTS AND PLAGUES.”BLESSED IS A NATION WHOSE GOD IS THE LORD. WHAT HAPPPENED IN THE BIBLE DAYS WHEN PEOPLE DISOBEYED GOD, AND LIVED RECKLESSED LIVES? THEY WERE PUNISHED OR DISTROYED. REMEMBER, GOD IS THE SAME, YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOREVER.
WHAT HAPPENED YEARS ARGO, ARE HAPPENING NOW, SO WE CANNOT EXCAPE THE CONSEQUENCES. WE NOW HAVE OVER 400 NOWN CASES OF AIDS IN DOMINICA. AND NOW WE ARE HAVING DENGAU OUTBRAKE. ALL THESE DISEASES ARE SURROUNDED, BY BLOOD AND FLUIDS. WE MUST ACCEPT WHEN THINGS HAVE GONE WRONG OR IS GOING WRONG IN OUR SOCIETY AND THE WORLD. THE WORLD IS NOT BIG ANYMORE. PEOPLE ARE TRAVELING MORE, SO DISEASES CAN TRAVEL QUICKLY. WE JUST HAVE TO DO THE RIGHT THINGS AS MUCH AS WE CAN, AND OBEY GOD AND THE POSITIVE PEOPLE IN SOCIETY, WHO CARES ABOUT US HUMANS. IN ANY WALK OF LIFE, WE KNOW SOME THING WE HAVE NO CONTROL OF, BUT THERE ARE SOME RESPONSIBILITIES WE HAVE TO PERSONALY TAKE TO HELP OUR SELVES.
after reading some of the comments it looks like the word initiative is no longer being used everybody waiting for someone else to do something for them this is laziness stop waiting for government
this outsourcing thing is one time I do not support u Skerro .Who advised you? It could not have been the Chief Health Inspector.I doubt very much.Poor service all the way
Millions to a private firm but more mosqitoes on our skin,in our faceand on our back…e.So u must have dengue
bring back mosquito infestation monitoring and control to the sanitation department .PLENTY MONEY BEING SPENT BUT MORE MOSQITOES AND RATS .nOU FINI BAT
People, please follow all given instruction to avoid any danger1
if I get dengue CMO I holding u responsible.Where are the guys who used to go around checking on mosquitoes?
what do u expect? Who is monitoring vectors? Definitelly not the Ministry of Health
how do u expect not to have dengue when u have outsourced vector control.what a piece of madness. The provider has to make a big profit.How?He need to have less workers.He spends less on chemical.Less on fuel and transport.This is a service like the General Secretary of the Public Service Union says should remain with the Health Ministry.Never never in my life time have I experienced so much problems with mosquitoe infestation What a shame .Mr Tim Tim I guess u want to ensure that Mr So and So vote stays with u at whatever cost to our health.Thank u Sir.Time will tell
anonymous wait.Who outsourced vector control?
You started off well but at the end you sounded just like the politically insane workers. Check your info and history well. Under which party in Dominica history the health department got most attention smh
Mosquitoes breed in water, get rid of ALL standing water.
so you want me to cut down all my sugar cane then?
God bless Dominica now and always
since after they privateise the vector control department that what we can get when the orgnal vector control team were around theywere more proactive
labour government have failed the dominica public right left and centre
labour must go
YOU WILL HAVE TO GO INSTEAD OF LABOUR BECASUE YOU WILL SEE IT FOR ANOTHER FVE YEARS IN YOUR FACE. UWP WILL DIE BEFORE LABOUR GO
they need to past and spray the entire country with that thing they used to spray with…
because i telling u is internet mosquitoes it have these days you no…
tell the government to spray the country. national pest control is getting a sub venture for that. they need to step up. tell environmental health boss to check into that
are we all getting knick backs?
All we need to do is keep the place clean. By doing that the mosquito is already 99% controlled. We are just too untidy in Dominica. And if you look closer, most of the cases are from the dirtiest communities.
My sympathies to those suffering from dengue fever -I hope they get better soon.
If you need to keep water in containers around your home, an easy way to stop mosquitos laying in your water is putting a few drops of washing up liquid on the water, so it forms a layer to prevent mosquitos laying.
Apparently, drinking a daily cup of bush tea made with citronella/lemongrass (which grows wild all over the island) stops mosquitos biting you, and planting it around your home deters them too.
Dam Mosquitoes!! Why can’t they just go away!
Everything blame it on the government, dengue is gov’t, man drown in titou gorge is gov’t, woman throw baby is gov’t, girls makin porn is gov’t, that’s why allu doesnt go anywhere in that country, allu too small minded!
Well said ,Just like the four people dat disliked your comment.. I never see people that crying down a government that much, you visit other country news site and non supporters of a party just humble but not Dominicans, change must come but unless Dominicans doh change Dominica will never change. even when skerrit do bad he doing bad, do good he doing bad but as the saying goes you cannot please a black person
Hear, hear and you are so right!
Very sad really looking out from an outsiders view and many outsiders are saying the same thing.
The ability to have intellectual, non-judgemental and finger pointing blame, or reference to religion or petty party politics seems to be staunching the evolvement of your island and its people.
Well balanced debates or discussion doesn’t have to be this way and in fact could be very stimulating and interestingly educational at the same time, when people are able to appreciate other points of view, despite disagreement or agreement with this.
I’ll be praying for your island that this changes as there’s so much natural ability and potential to soar but for the those sad facts mentioned.
GREAT COMMENT DCAN
I just pray for safety of all Dominicans from Dengue Fever. Father Yahweh have mercy on us, and keep us safe from all sickness and harm. Please stop putting politics in everything, and let us focus on taking care of our families and our selves by being a positive example to our children instead of using harsh and negative words in front of them. May Jehovah God bless Dominica and all who live there.
They used to spray DDT to control mosquitos in Dominica till it was outlawed.
Why don’t they spray some other control to keep the mosquito population under control?
This country is jus bad news,needs a complete exorcism.Keep voting this present party and you all will find out.
Everything from the rain to unemployment Dominicans blame on either the government or a political party, now you blaming the dengue fever on Labour Party? seriously how asinine can you be???
I cannot understand that. Nah man the government must have done something really bad to these people.
Not the person fault, dey jus retadid and we dominicans keep wondering why our country not moving forward, is because of political insane uneducated fools like king willy. america got that problem too, is because of Obama? No wonder workers cannot win… Too many empty barrels like you supporting dem
you must be an idiot
I don’t think that you should react like that. If you look at the trend, these disease affects the poorer countries much more than the others. There is a strong relation between poverty and these diseases. So don’t just jump in and separate governments from these outbreaks.
you not real
Never in the history of Dominica we get so much bad news I mean everyday is drugs, death, disease and corruption I truly believe God punishing Dominica for voting skerro!
Smh. Get drug men is a prob, doh get dem is a prob, Dominica always had drugs and diseases soo wats Ur point? I bet you all the people that speak like you not educated or semi retadid
Oh please! Leave God out of it. This is blasphemy to our God. “Thou shalt not call the Name of the Lord thy God in vain.”
What about you? Are you holy of holies? You have no sins? Are you perfect? What good are you doing for Dominica?
IF YOU WAS WATCHING WORLD NEWS YOU WILL SEE THAT DOMINICA THE PLACE YOU ARE FROM AND CRITIZING, IS NOT THE WORST WITH BAD NEWS. MIGHT COME BACK AN HUNT YOU
That is really something we keep our environment dirty because of the present government – I think its time we get real and clean up
yOU HAVE GOT TO BE A SICK PERSON TO MAKE THAT KIND OF COMMENT. THAT SAYS WHAT KIND OF PERSON YOU ARE
Want to be the exorcist?
Yes King Willy Skerrit Do that