Dengue takes a life in Manchester

With the current outbreak of dengue fever already claiming one life on local shores, the Ministry of Health has appealed to Jamaicans to take greater precautions to avoid being bitten by disease-carrying mosquitoes.

The health ministry yesterday confirmed that one person had died from dengue haemorrhagic fever, the more severe form of the disease.

Though unable to give details about the victim, the ministry stated that the first fatality was recorded in Manchester.

A release from the ministry yesterday stated that the number of cases had risen to 120, up from the 111 reported last Thursday.

Last week, there were no confirmed cases of dengue haemorrhagic fever, but yesterday the ministry said it had now recorded three.

"When you develop (dengue) complications, the death rate can be quite significant," Dr Eva Lewis-Fuller, director of health, promotion and protection, warned yesterday. "It can range anywhere between one and 10 per cent of those who have these complications."

Lewis-Fuller stressed that it was important to have dengue fever symptoms checked out by a doctor.

Symptoms of dengue fever include:

• Severe headache
• Pain behind the eyes
• Muscle pains
• Joint or bone pains
• Skin rash
• Nausea.

The severe form, dengue haemorrhagic fever, can lead to death.