Dengue fever cases rise
Published:Friday | August 13, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Nadisha Hunter, Gleaner Writer
Jamaica has recorded 27 more confirmed cases of dengue fever over the past week, pushing the total number to 104.
Dr Eva Lewis-Fuller, director of health promotion and protection in the Ministry of Health, said the ministry was also investigating an additional seven cases of dengue haemorrhagic fever - the more severe form of the disease.
This would bring the total number of the severe cases to 14.
In recent weeks, cases of dengue fever and dengue haemorrhagic fever have been rising in Jamaica and the rest of the Caribbean.
Minister of Health Rudyard Spencer had announced during a press conference at Jamaica House last Tuesday that 77 laboratory confirmed cases had been detected, including seven confirmed cases of the severe type.
But despite the rapid increase in the number of cases, Lewis-Fuller said the number of persons confirmed with the virus was far less than the actual number of persons who have been infected.
She said the ministry suspected that the larger number of infected persons were not reported to the ministry.
Possible outbreak
"We are seeing an increase in the number of confirmed and suspected cases of dengue fever and could have an explosive outbreak if we do not contain it, and we need the help of the population to do so," she told The Gleaner yesterday.
Kingston and St Andrew, Manchester, Clarendon and St Catherine are reported to be the most active dengue areas.
Dengue fever is caused by a virus transmitted from the Aedes aegypti mosquito to humans.
Lewis-Fuller urged persons to assist in ridding their areas of breeding grounds for the vectors.
The symptoms of the virus include a high fever, headache, pain behind the eyes, a rash and back pain.
Persons who are experiencing such symptoms are advised to visit their health-care provider so that they can be accurately diagnosed.