Trinidad and Tobago reports latest dengue numbers, encourages public support in reducing mosquito breeding sites
The Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Health reported in their latest epidemiological update on August 2, the number of laboratory confirmed dengue fever cases have risen to 635. The death toll remains unchanged at five.
Officials note there with a spike in cases also came an increase in hospitalizations. However, there is a system in place within the public health systems to manage the influx of persons at all health centres and hospitals.
Within the last six months, staff of the Insect Vector Control Division have visited more than 150,000 premises across the country. During these visits, breeding sites were found in containers used by farmers to collect water for crop irrigation, water storage barrels for household use, garbage disposal containers and unused containers around the yard or home. Oftentimes, these breeding sites are found where a positive case of dengue occurs.
Some homeowners are not responding to pleas to dispose of breeding sites.
The Minister of Health, The Honorable Terrence Deyalsingh said that while collaboration between state agencies has been ongoing, public support is needed to reduce the breeding sites of the Aedes aegypti mosquito. It must be noted that no amount of spraying can manage the breeding sites for mosquitoes within homes.
In most instances, the Aedes aegypti mosquito breeds in clean, clear and standing water and survives in flower pots and guttering. It can also be found in unusual breeding sites such as wares drainers and within the grooves of sliding doors in bathrooms.
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While state agencies will continue to work together, there is a personal responsibility to ensure that breeding sites around and within the home are eliminated. Dengue has been endemic in Trinidad and Tobago for decades.
Dengue is a disease caused by a virus spread through mosquito bites. The disease can take up to 2 weeks to develop with illness generally lasting less than a week.
Symptoms from dengue include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, rash, muscle and joint pain, and minor bleeding.
Dengue can become severe within a few hours. Severe dengue is a medical emergency, usually requiring hospitalization.
In severe cases, health effects can include hemorrhage (uncontrolled bleeding), shock (seriously low blood pressure), organ failure, and death.Â