There are now over 800 suspected cases and 81 confirmed cases of the dreaded Chikungunya disease in Dominica, health officials have said.
“To date information coming from the ministry of health in Dominica indicates that we have 81 positive cases and 871 suspected cases of Chikungunya. And that was as of last week Friday,” said Chief Environmental Health Officer, Anthony Scotland.
He made the remarks at an exhibition on Vector Control at the ground floor of the Government Headquarters on Wednesday.
According to Scotland, Dengue is also a concern in Dominica with four types circulating in the Caribbean region, however Dengue Type One and Two are the most prominent.
“This means that we still have a possible population at risk to Dengue since infection with one type does not protect infection to the other type,” he noted. “And the circulation of all types increases the risk of severe cases. If not controlled we could see more explosive and severe outbreaks in the years to come.”
Scotland also mentioned that in 2010 Dominica experienced its ‘biggest outbreaks’ of Dengue with over 500 confirmed cases reported.
He said there are over 3,000 Chikungunya cases in 11 Caribbean countries and the Ministry of Health has developed a strategy called the Integrated Approach to Vector Control to manage mosquitoes, the main vector which spreads the disease.
He also urged Dominicans to play their part in preventing the spread of vector-borne diseases, such as Chikungunya and Dengue.
“Individuals and communities are encouraged to work together to get rid, in their premises and communities, of containers which can contribute to mosquito breeding,” he pointed out.
Some of the examples given were Old tires, cans, plastic containers, drums, barrels and buckets.
Scotland also urged the use of long sleeves and mosquito nets.
He said the ministry of health has teamed up with the National Pest and Termite Control, Environmental Health Department, the National Public Surveillance team, local authorities, Dominica Water and Sewage Co. (DOWASCO), Public Works Department, Dominica Air and Sea Port Authority (DASPA) and Dominica Solid Waste Management Corporation (DSWMC), in efforts to combat vectors on the island.
Wednesday’s exhibition displayed the life cycles of the mosquitoes, and ways that they can be destroyed, among others
The exhibition will soon be taken to other health districts, including Marigot, St. Joseph, Portsmouth, La Plaine, Castle Bruce and Grand Bay.
A drive to get rid of derelict vehicles, particularly in the Roseau Health District, will also be undertaken.
Dengue and Chikungunya are spread by the Aedes Egypti mosquitoes.
Why isn’t the governement trying to get a vaccine for this disease? St. Martin has vaccines. So therefore it means there are vaccines available.
There is a mosquito nursery on the Goodwill road in the face of the public health officials, it got blocked by the rough sea, please authorities unblock it because it can breed much more mosquitos than any home will ever produce in a lifetime.
One Day , That Chikungunya Thing Will Go Ehh ..#AintEazy !
apparently, this disease has its origins in africa and ASIA. guess who most likely brought it in…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chikungunya
It is clear that Chikungunya has infested the brain of some of the trolls on DNO.
City Council where are you? Our gutters and blocked in the heart of the city and in Pottersville. Please help help help!
The government needs to get some fumigation trucks. I live in California where they have west nile from mosquitoes and if one bird dies the very next day these trucks will be fumigating the area. Hey there’s a couple jobs right there, you always going to have mosquitoes to fumigate.
The health officials don’t have a clue what they are talking about. All our lives we know this mosquito is associated with dengue. All of a sudden it carries chickungunyah?
Not all of a sudden Sir/Madam. You are only hearing about Chikungunya now because it just got introduced to the Caribbean region, that is St. Martin; and that was last December.
The incompetence of the people who manage this island really sucks.
We really want to control Chikungunya? Then declare war on those mosquitoes! What is so difficult in mobilizing all communities this coming week and say blows on mosquitoes, all ravines with stagnant water must be cleaned, all empty lots cleaned, old drums, tires, derelict vehicles must go!
We need leaders who can lead and take bold initiatives. I therefore declare that starting this weekend, every man, woman and child get up and have an assault on these mosquitoes and other vectors.
Those in favor say aye!
PARRY, I would encourage the Government to triple its efforts relative to the controlling of the Chikungunya Disease. God forbids, if a tourist was to visit an infected area and falls sick from the disease, can you imagine the disastrous consequences that are likely to face Dominica’s Tourism Industry.
Dear Iff:
The only – did I say “only”? – way the Dengue/Chikungunya mosquito is going to be controlled is ‘Iff’ We as householders and property owners take charge and get rid of the breeding places. We are the ones to triple our efforts for the mosquito thrives in and around our homes, not in the drains, bushes, ravines.
This message is being preached from the days of Mosquito Eradication back in the 1960’s. This gospel is nothing new.
These people not ready yet mosquitoes breeding in public places and nothing is being done about it.Enviromental health officers should put the office coat down and go out and inspect the environment they don’t walk they drive. Just at the side of tropical shipping and Nassief hardware is an I saw mosquitoes like tower. If they were walking the area the amount of cases would be much more than that, Iknow of yard where ten people were affected they must follow up in Kingshill. When you alert them they don’t show up
The time has come when Dominicans have to seriously go down on their knees and pray to Almighty God. These pestilence will not just go away until their is a change of Governance in the country. We did not take the Bin Boreball seriously. We did not take the G. O. N. Emanuel matter seriously. We appear not to be taking all those criminals roaming the Streets of Dominica seriously. We did not take the alleged un accounted $54 millions seriously. We did not take the ownership of the Villas in Savanne Paix matter seriously. We did not take the destruction of the Black Sigatoka seriously and presently we appear not to be taking the Chikungunya Disease seriously. God help Dominica.
You do your part and give God his dues. Do not only blame the government. Everyone is responsible to do his/her part for their country, their environment.
Do not think that God will hold only politicians accountable. He will also hold nationals accountable, those who keep criticizing, lambasting and accusing and who do nothing to change matters in their environment.
There is a lot of work to do. Then get going and do your part. God will be pleased with you that you will be assisting your nation.
Personally i believe there are thousands of cases….90% ofthe cases, the people stay home for a week or two
honestly i think the numbers are way higher a number of individuals stay home and treat themselves.
Let me tell you something: most households in Calibishie are forced to collect water in drums due to the totally inadequate and unreliable supply of water by Dowasco. Furthermore, the road drains in Calibishie are in a state of total disrepair and the water is not draining of at all. I would call that an ideal breeding ground for Mosquitos. In fact most of the inhabitants in the flat in Calibishie have been affected by the disease. So, I would blame Dowasco and the government for totally neglecting Calibishie and thus massively contributing to the spread of this disease. Never mind road shows – government and Dowasco do your job you are getting paid to do. As usual for things like this there is no money!
I am not a government supporter, as a matter of fact I am ready to vote them out, but I beg to differ. . Just because you collect water in drums does not mean that you have to have mosquitos. it is your responsibility to check the drums regularly. As to the drains I think we Dominicans are just really nasty. One Saturday of community work could clear those drains. It’s time we take responsibility for our lives. If our people would just be responsible- cover the drums etc then we would not have this mess. So now here is where I blame the government- they have created such an attitude of laziness and handouts that our people just sit on their behinds and expect them to do everything.
There are some doers and non-doers. Disappointingly, there are more non-doers. I do agree with you. If they wish to eradicate those mosquitoes, they must help themselves and not depend solely on the government. That is the problem with some people.
I called your office to come to my community to see the number of uncovered drums and black plastic tanks without covers. You all are yet to do something about it. The community is a stone’s throw away from Roseau.
I plan to visit Dominica later this year, but with the outbreak of these diseases, I am having second thoughts.
I remember visiting Dominica 15 years ago and I had to spend half my vacation in bed with a high fever due to a virus I caught there. I had to visit the emergency department twice during that time. I dread having to go through that again.
Looks to me Educator, you will have to cancel travel to the whole of the Caribbean, western Europe, Asia and Africa and, mark my words, Florida soon enough. Chikungunya has invaded the Caribbean through Europe (Italy for example) and Asia.
Don’t let this cause you to barricade yourself at home. Get on that plane and set your compass for the Nature Isle.
Somewhat I can relate to that. Once when I visited D/ca the mosquitoes gave me ding dong, as I would say.
especially at nights. They were in the drainage near the house. I understood it was sprayed a few days prior to my arrival.
I was offered some when I arrived from Toronto but did not drink. I will remember it in the future when I visit D/ca. 
I have since visited D/ca more than once. Thank God I did not get sick.
Another time, the day before I left I got sick with a fever and weak feeling. The night before I was fine and next morning I woke up sick. This was strange. I drank a lot of citrus juice and took aspirins. I returned to Toronto feeling sick as ever.
The Monday, I went to work and visited the company nurse in the building. She told me I should not have come to work. I did because I probably would not have been believed if I had called in sick. I stayed in for approximately one week or probably two. I had sick leave. In the meantime I saw the doctor who gave me some tablets and a medical certificate.
To this day I have no idea what I caught and what was wrong with me. Thank God I eventually got over it. You know, I should have had some rum, rum punch or brandy.
I do hope the health official responsible could do something about these mosquitoes. Simply employ some people to go around the country and spray areas where the mosquitoes could be breeding.
Before communities start working together, let’s start with the powers that be (Government & Corporations etc), for them to clean up Roseau. Cover the open drainage systems. Clean up the sea front by the market area, and provide garbage bins around the city area and sea fronts. Get business owners to be responsible for the disposal of their bags, containers etc, by also providing bins, and cleaning up areas outside their business premises and STOP BLAMING. STOP ALL THIS POLITICAL TALKING AND LET’S START ACTIONING THINGS. LET’S MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER.