Cook Islands: Dengue cases

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=45825


Dengue outbreak in Cooks affects more than 60 people

Posted at 02:51 on 08 April, 2009 UTC

More than sixty people have contracted type one dengue in Rarotonga in the Cook Islands since late February.

The illness, which is transmitted by mosquitoes, has symptoms that include fever, headache and muscle pain.

The Cook Islands secretary for health, Dr Roro Daniel, says the nine people that have been hospitalised are all in a stable condition.

?It has been traced back to somebody who has come from outside the country. The number of cases is slow, we see around two cases a day, some of them are admitted, but some of them are sent home on oral treatment.?

Dr Roro Daniel says health officials are running awareness campaigns and are encouraging people to destroy all mosquito breeding sites, such as water containers.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Cook Islands: Dengue cases

Source: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-04/16/content_11192941.htm

Dengue cases up to 170 in Cook Islands
www.chinaview.cn 2009-04-16 08:55:56

WELLINGTON, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Cook Islands has recorded 170 cases of suspected dengue fever over the last three weeks, the Cook Islands News reported on Thursday.

Cook Islands Ministry of Health this week said 13 people have been admitted to hospital showing symptoms of the mosquito-borne disease with results expected to be received from Australia this week confirming the presence of a new outbreak in Rarotonga.

The ministry said that no evidence has suggested the infection has reached the outer islands.

A national clean up campaign was undertaken last week with environmental risk assessments and actions completed for all probable cases. Many empty cans, bottles and plastic bags were disposed of immediately, the daily said.

Residences of the 170 probable dengue cases were identified.

This week, the public health team has assessed known natural and man-made habitats which include the Rarotonga Airport, seaport and other high risk areas with appropriate action completed.

The public is urged to take preventative measures and to control the spread of infection to keep the community safe. This is through the clearing of mosquito breading areas and removing containers and other water filled objects on their properties as well as using personal protection measures like insect repellents.

The public health team will continue to do surveillance and to monitor the situation and raise awareness.

Information pamphlets have been distributed throughout the Cook Islands and are available to visitors on arrival.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Cook Islands: Dengue cases

Source: http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/SHIG-7SADB9?OpenDocument

Cook Islands: Dengue outbreak DREF operation No. MDRCK001

Source: International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)

Date: 22 May 2009

Full_Report (pdf* format - 156.3 Kbytes)


The International Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) is a source of un-earmarked money created by the Federation in 1985 to ensure that immediate financial support is available for Red Cross and Red Crescent response to emergencies. The DREF is a vital part of the International Federation's disaster response system and increases the ability of national societies to respond to disasters.

CHF 50,000 (USD 44,929 or EUR 33,053) has been allocated from the Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the Cook Islands Red Cross Society in delivering immediate assistance to approximately 8,000 beneficiaries through direct services and information, education and communication materials. Unearmarked funds to repay DREF are encouraged.

Summary:

The Cook Islands is experiencing a dengue outbreak, with up to 994 cases reported on the main island of Rarotonga as of 20 May 2009. The Cook Islands Red Cross Society, in coordination with government and non-government agencies in-country, are responding to the threat with an increase in awareness-raising in identified communities as well as through the National Society's current community-based health and first aid programme. The International Federation has released CHF 50,000 from the disaster relief emergency fund to support the National Society in responding to the outbreak. With these funds, the National Society plans to procure and distribute vector control kits to affected communities as well as disseminate information, education and communication materials to the public.

This operation is expected to be implemented over four months, and will therefore be completed by August 2009. A Final Report will be made available three months after the end of the operation, by November 2009.

The following donors and partners support DREF: Danish Red Cross, Irish Red Cross/ Irish government, Japanese Red Cross, Monaco Red Cross/ Monaco government, Netherlands Red Cross/ Netherlands government, Norwegian Red Cross/ Norwegian government, Swedish Red Cross/ Swedish government, Italian government, United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID), European Commission's Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO), OPEC Fund for International Development, and corporate and private donors.

The International Federation, on behalf of the Cook Islands Red Cross Society, would like to thank all donors and partners for their generous support to DREF.

Full_Report (pdf* format - 156.3 Kbytes)
(*) Get Adobe Acrobat Viewer (free)