Jamaica’s Ministry of Well being and Wellness on Saturday declared an outbreak of dengue fever on the island, with over 500 suspected and confirmed circumstances.
The ministry stated the outbreak comes as its Nationwide Surveillance Unit suggested that the island has surpassed the dengue epidemic threshold for July and August and is on a trajectory to do the identical for September.
“This implies, the nation has seen a rise within the variety of circumstances in contrast to what’s usually seen throughout these months of the yr,” the ministry said.
As of Friday, September 23, the nation had recorded 565 suspected, presumed and confirmed circumstances of dengue, the ministry stated. Of that quantity, 78 circumstances had been confirmed, with nearly all of the circumstances in Kingston and St Andrew, St Catherine and St Thomas, in response to the discharge.
There aren’t any dengue-related deaths labeled presently, however six deaths are being investigated, the ministry stated.
That is the primary outbreak on the island since 2019.
The ministry stated the dominant pressure has been Dengue Sort Two, which is without doubt one of the deadliest and has not been predominant in Jamaica since 2010. The pressure, along with fever, could cause further signs and will be deadly.
Minister of Well being Dr. Christopher Tufton introduced that vector management staff might be commencing widescale fogging — a traditional method used to fight Aedes mosquitoes and forestall the an infection.
What’s dengue?
Dengue viruses are unfold to individuals by the chew of an contaminated Aedes species mosquito. Virtually half of the world’s inhabitants, about 4 billion individuals, reside in areas with a threat of an infection, in response to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Signs embrace fever, headache, muscle and joint ache, fatigue, nausea, and rash. In a small variety of circumstances, the possibly lethal dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) might develop, leading to inside bleeding, enlargement of the liver, and excessive fever.
About one in 4 individuals contaminated with the an infection will get sick.
Dengue all through the area
There may be additionally no particular medication to deal with the an infection. Well being suppliers will administer medicine to deal with signs.
However in the USA, a vaccine is authorised to be used in kids aged 9 to 16 years with laboratory-confirmed earlier dengue virus an infection and dwelling in areas the place the an infection is widespread. Endemic areas embrace some U.S. territories and freely related states.
Dengue in the USA
Dengue outbreaks sometimes happen within the continental United States. Most circumstances reported within the 49 continental US states happen in vacationers contaminated elsewhere.
As a result of the varieties of mosquitoes that unfold the an infection are widespread all through many areas of the USA, native unfold is feasible and has been reported in Florida, Hawaii, Texas, and Arizona.
Nonetheless, most outbreaks within the continental United States have been comparatively small and restricted.
