Dengue danger

Dengue fever outbreaks have reached crisis proportions in several countries across the Caribbean, leaving dozens of persons dead.

The increase in cases is being blamed on warm weather and unusually early rainy seasons, which have led to an explosion in mosquitoes, health officials across the region have reported.

However, in an interview with The Gleaner yesterday, the Ministry of Health's director of emergency, disaster management and special services, Dr Marion Bullock-DuCasse, said her ministry is monitoring the situation and that there was no cause for concern for Jamaica at this time.

Deaths in Dom Rep

In the meantime, health officials in the affected countries are reporting that the flood of cases is putting a strain on a number of hospitals where cases are treated. At least 27 deaths have been repor-ted in the Dominican Republic.

On Saturday, hundreds of health workers and soldiers went door to door warning locals about the virus and destroying mosquito-breeding areas. There are reports that hospitals in Trinidad are running out of bed space and Puerto Rico is facing what officials say could be the worst dengue outbreak in more than a decade.

At least five people have died in Puerto Rico and another 6, 300 cases suspected.

On Friday, officials at the San Fernando General Hospital in Trinidad added 15 beds to the hospital wards to accommodate the influx of cases. A dengue clinic was also opened to follow up on patients discharged quickly to free up more beds. At least one death has been reported in that country.