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Health authorities have confirmed an outbreak of dengue fever in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, three years after the last outbreak killed at least seven people, mostly children.
The Ministry of Health, Wellness and Environment reported on Friday that its epidemiology department has recorded 119 cases of dengue so far in 2024, with 23 cases reported in June and 82 in July.
“Based on epidemiological data, the number of laboratory-confirmed dengue cases has exceeded the expected threshold, indicating that an outbreak of dengue fever has occurred in St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” the ministry said.
The Ministry of Health urges the public to take basic precautions during the summer vacation to prevent the spread of vector-borne diseases.
“As we approach August, the public needs to be aware that we are still in the cyclone season and temperatures are expected to be above normal in August. These weather patterns can create ideal breeding grounds for the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which carries dengue, Zika and chikungunya viruses,” the ministry added in a press statement.
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To prevent the spread of dengue virus, the government has increased public awareness and health education efforts and strengthened surveillance, including targeted source reduction using GIS maps. The government has also added staff to the vector control unit for source reduction and increased fogging exercises on St. Vincent.
A private company has been contracted to support the Southern Grenadines’ vector control unit with spraying and source reduction, and this work is currently ongoing.
“We are calling on all homeowners and community groups to search for and destroy mosquito breeding sites or potential breeding sites in and around their properties,” the Department of Health urged.
People at risk of severe dengue symptoms, such as children, pregnant women and the elderly, especially those with limited mobility, are advised to take extra precautions as the virus can be fatal.
“The Ministry will continue to closely monitor the situation at the local, regional and international levels and provide updates to the public,” the press statement concluded.
read: Record dengue cases in Latin America and the Caribbean
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