Jamaica: 2010 Dengue cases

[Shiloh]

Source: http://go-jamaica.com/news/read_article.php?id=17610

Teacher dies from suspected Dengue fever

2010-03-12 09:05:09 | with audio |

The Gleaner Power 106 News has learnt that a teacher from Knox College in Manchester, Jamaica has died from complications related to what hospital sources have suspected to be dengue fever.

Our news centre understands that the teacher died in the Mandeville Hospital on Wednesday night.

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Jamaica: 2010 Dengue cases

77 dengue cases

BY ALICIA DUNKLEY Senior staff reporter dunkleya@jamaicaobserver.com

Wednesday, August 04, 2010

JAMAICA recorded 77 laboratory-confirmed dengue cases up to July 24, as the virus continues its march across Central American and Caribbean countries.

Health Minister Rudyard Spencer told journalists at a press briefing at Jamaica House in Kingston yesterday that of the 77 cases, seven have been confirmed as of the more severe form of the illness -- the dengue haemorragic fever. Spencer, however, said no cases of dengue shock syndrome have been reported so far nor any related deaths.


The parishes of Kingston and St Andrew account for 12 of the 77 cases, Portland two, St Mary five, St Ann four, St James four, Hanover two, St Elizabeth three, Manchester 14, Clarendon eight, and St Catherine 11. The location of the others were not ascertained.

There have still been no laboratory-confirmed cases for Trelawny, St Thomas and Westmoreland.

The health ministry, said Spencer, is on high alert in light of the growing number of cases of dengue fever and dengue haemorragic fever in the country and region. Consequently, he said, all parishes have intensified their fogging and oiling activities. Fogging is being carried out in approximately 800 communities across the island.

The minister said the ministry will also be launching a comprehensive public education programme to alert persons to the dangers of and preventative actions on dengue. He said a community youth dengue prevention intervention programme has also been developed, under which it is proposed that 1,200 young persons receive training to go into approximately 150 high-risk communities to provide house-to-house dengue prevention information and identify and destroy breeding sites.


continues at;

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/77-dengue-cases_7852347

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Jamaica: 2010 Dengue cases

27 new dengue fever cases
2010-08-12 17:19:03 |


Livern Barrett
Gleaner Writer

The Health Ministry is this afternoon confirming 27 new cases of dengue fever in the last week.

According to officials at the Ministry, the total number of dengue fever cases now stands at 104, up from the 77 cases reported last Tuesday.

Dr Eva Eva Lewis-Fuller, the Director of Health Promotion and Protection in the Ministry, is warning that there could be more infections in the communities where the 104 represents cases were found.

Health Minister Rudyard Spencer announced last week that all parishes have reported increased cases of dengue fever since the start of the year.

Since then, the Ministry has been placed on high alert and has activated its Emergency Operations Centre to deal with the threat.

The Pan American Health Organisation has issued two epidemiological alerts for dengue fever due to the outbreak in Latin America and the Caribbean and has urged regional countries to intensify measures to control it.
http://go-jamaica.com/news/read_article.php?id=21698

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Source: http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20100813/lead/lead3.html

Dengue fever cases rise
August 13, 2010

...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....

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Jamaica: 2010 Dengue cases

News
Dengue death reported in Manchester

MOH continues appeal for elimination of mosquito breeding sites

Jamaica Observer

Monday, August 30, 2010

THE Ministry of Health has confirmed one death of a patient in Manchester who had contracted the severe form of dengue fever - dengue haemorrhagic fever.

The identity of the dengue victim has not been released.

Chief Medical Officer, Dr Sheila Campbell Forrester expressed condolences to the family members of the individual and urged people to be vigilant in identifying and destroying mosquito breeding sites.

?Dengue can only be transmitted when an Aedes aegypti mosquito bites an infected person and then bites another. It is therefore important that we take steps to prevent the breeding of this mosquito and protect ourselves from being bitten by mosquitoes,? she said.

She urged persons who believe they have dengue fever to visit their health care provider.

?Persons who have had dengue at least once before are susceptible to getting dengue haemorrhagic fever. It is therefore very important that persons who feel they may have this more severe form go to the nearest hospital immediately. We want to initiate early treatment so that we can have better health outcomes,? she explained.

Symptoms of dengue fever include severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle pains, joint or bone pains, skin rash and nausea. In addition to the symptoms of dengue fever, dengue haemorrhagic fever usually presents with skin bruising, bleeding from the nose, mouth or gums, severe and continuous stomach pains, pale, cold and clammy skin, difficulty breathing, fainting and frequent vomiting.

Jamaica has now recorded 120 confirmed cases of dengue fever, including three cases of dengue haemorrhagic fever.

The Ministry continues to appeal to persons to follow the guidelines to eliminate the breeding sites for mosquitoes. Look for anything in which water can settle and either cover it, keep the area dry, clean it regularly, fill it with soil or sand, punch holes into it or recycle or dispose of it.

As much as possible, persons should avoid being bitten by mosquitoes by using insect repellent, mosquito nets, mosquito destroyers or putting screens on windows and doors.

Persons who wish to obtain more information on dengue may call the Ministry?s Emergency Operations Centre at 1888-663-5683 (1888 ONE LOVE).
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Dengue-death-reported-in-Manchester