http://www.caymannetnews.com/cgi-script/csArticles/articles/000007/000749.htm
Dengue fever threat real for Cayman
Monday, April 3, 2006
Leader of Government Business, Hon Kurt Tibbetts, said there was now a ?strong worldwide emergence, especially in Latin America and the Caribbean? of the dengue fever.
Importantly, he said that based on this and other factors the fever was ?a real threat to Cayman. We do have the potential for an outbreak here.?
Speaking at a Media Briefing by Cabinet members on 31 March, Mr Tibbetts rang alarm bells around the curious out-of-season emergence, and strength of the virus? emergence in the Latin American and Caribbean region.
However, at the same time he underscored, ?Cayman already has pieces in place to respond to minimise the incidents of dengue here.?
Addressing the out-of-season emergence Mr Tibbetts said that the fever was ?of particular interest (to Cayman) since we are in a dry season when the numbers should be low.?
Speaking about the worldwide emergence Mr Tibbetts said, ?The fever has now reached epidemic proportions.?
Substantiating the news Mr Tibbetts brought to the meeting about dengue?s epidemic proportions around the world at this time are news items in March, headlined, ?War on Dengue declared? and ?800 hospitalised, 2000 suffer fever,? as well as others, on sites belonging to Middle Eastern and Latin American countries.
Dengue is a flu-like viral disease spread by the bite of infected mosquitoes. The Dengue hemorrhagic fever is a severe, often fatal, complication of dengue.
The disease occurs in most tropical areas of the world and is a flu-like illness spread by the bite of an infected mosquito.
Dengue is diagnosed by a blood test. Anyone who is bitten by an infected mosquito can get dengue fever.
Risk factors for dengue hemorrhagic fever include a person?s age and immune status, as well as the type of infecting virus.
Persons who were previously infected with one or more types of dengue virus are thought to be at greater risk for developing dengue hemorrhagic fever if infected again.
Medical practitioners already confirm that border migration is one factor contributing to the high incidence of dengue fever in different regions.
Against the background of the heavy traffic of persons in and out of Cayman, and also the need for preventive measures, Mr Tibbetts addressed Cayman?s delayed aerial spraying programme.
He said that the damaged Mosquito Research Control Unit (MRCU) plane ? a new unit received in late February 2006, but damaged by another aircraft while on the ground, and not yet put to use by the MRCU ? is expected back in Cayman by 3 or 4 April 2006.
He said, ?Inspections and repairs on the aircraft are complete.?
He also said that the second new MRCU plane was due in April as well.
With the first plane on Island by the time mentioned he said, ?The pre-season spraying will begin in late April or early May.?
In relation to MRCU operations he said that the Unit?s new Labs and offices would be ready for relocation of the Unit in August 2006.
Dengue fever threat real for Cayman
Monday, April 3, 2006
Leader of Government Business, Hon Kurt Tibbetts, said there was now a ?strong worldwide emergence, especially in Latin America and the Caribbean? of the dengue fever.
Importantly, he said that based on this and other factors the fever was ?a real threat to Cayman. We do have the potential for an outbreak here.?
Speaking at a Media Briefing by Cabinet members on 31 March, Mr Tibbetts rang alarm bells around the curious out-of-season emergence, and strength of the virus? emergence in the Latin American and Caribbean region.
However, at the same time he underscored, ?Cayman already has pieces in place to respond to minimise the incidents of dengue here.?
Addressing the out-of-season emergence Mr Tibbetts said that the fever was ?of particular interest (to Cayman) since we are in a dry season when the numbers should be low.?
Speaking about the worldwide emergence Mr Tibbetts said, ?The fever has now reached epidemic proportions.?
Substantiating the news Mr Tibbetts brought to the meeting about dengue?s epidemic proportions around the world at this time are news items in March, headlined, ?War on Dengue declared? and ?800 hospitalised, 2000 suffer fever,? as well as others, on sites belonging to Middle Eastern and Latin American countries.
Dengue is a flu-like viral disease spread by the bite of infected mosquitoes. The Dengue hemorrhagic fever is a severe, often fatal, complication of dengue.
The disease occurs in most tropical areas of the world and is a flu-like illness spread by the bite of an infected mosquito.
Dengue is diagnosed by a blood test. Anyone who is bitten by an infected mosquito can get dengue fever.
Risk factors for dengue hemorrhagic fever include a person?s age and immune status, as well as the type of infecting virus.
Persons who were previously infected with one or more types of dengue virus are thought to be at greater risk for developing dengue hemorrhagic fever if infected again.
Medical practitioners already confirm that border migration is one factor contributing to the high incidence of dengue fever in different regions.
Against the background of the heavy traffic of persons in and out of Cayman, and also the need for preventive measures, Mr Tibbetts addressed Cayman?s delayed aerial spraying programme.
He said that the damaged Mosquito Research Control Unit (MRCU) plane ? a new unit received in late February 2006, but damaged by another aircraft while on the ground, and not yet put to use by the MRCU ? is expected back in Cayman by 3 or 4 April 2006.
He said, ?Inspections and repairs on the aircraft are complete.?
He also said that the second new MRCU plane was due in April as well.
With the first plane on Island by the time mentioned he said, ?The pre-season spraying will begin in late April or early May.?
In relation to MRCU operations he said that the Unit?s new Labs and offices would be ready for relocation of the Unit in August 2006.