Guyana records significant number of dengue fever cases
Published:Friday | August 18, 2023 | 5:33 PM
GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – Guyana has activated a technical working group (TWG) as the country has, so far this year, recorded a total of 2,169 confirmed dengue cases with 11 deaths.
The Ministry of Health in a statement said that 239 patients are hospitalised and that dengue is endemic to Guyana and the region of the Americas.
“Every few years there is a cyclical increase in dengue cases due to seasonal and climatic conditions amongst other factors. The region of the Americas has recorded a significant increase in dengue cases in the last few months.
“They have recorded 2,102, 848 cases from January to June 2023, of which 3,210 were classified as severe dengue with 876 deaths. The highest number of cases within this region were observed in Brazil, Peru and Bolivia,” the ministry said in its statement.
Dengue is an acute febrile disease that is caused by the dengue virus which is transmitted by the Aedes mosquito. There are four serotypes of the dengue virus known as DENV 1-4, each of which can cause an infection. Re-infection with a different serotype from that of a previous infection can result in a more severe form of the disease.
The ministry said persons with dengue may experience fever, eye pain, muscle/joint pain, skin rash, and headache and generalised weakness. It warned that persons affected by severe dengue (haemorrhagic dengue) may develop complications that are associated with bleeding and clotting disorders.
The ministry said that in order to ensure the adequate prevention, diagnosis and management of dengue, Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony, has activated the TWG responsible for assessing, recommending and implementing actions to mitigate this public health event.
It said as recommended by the TWG several of these measures include, a heightened public awareness campaign to promote environmental sanitation and hygienic practices, and, public awareness on the prevention of dengue and other mosquito borne diseases.
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