HEALTH AUTHORITIES on September 21 said they are investigating whether or not four people who died over the past three weeks had contracted dengue fever.

Dengue fever is a disease spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito and the Ministry of Health in a statement said that four persons “quickly deteriorated, some with features of acute kidney failure.

“One elderly female was confirmed on laboratory diagnosis to have had dengue fever. One young male was negative for dengue fever, Zika and Covid-19.

Young male

“Another young male died before the dengue test could be completed. The fourth person was negative for Covid-19, but some of their other results including dengue, are still outstanding,” the statement said.

The ministry noted that the dengue fever outbreak first noted in July this year and so far there have been 306 laboratory confirmed cases from the period January 1 to September 11.

The mosquito borne disease, while affecting all health districts, is affecting the Kingstown, Georgetown and Pembroke health districts most, with 65.9 per cent of cases coming from these areas. Especially worrying is that 51.3 per cent of the persons affected are in the age group 0-15 years,” the Ministry of Health said, adding that the current strain of dengue virus circulating is the Dengue type 3.

Dengue fever is mostly a mild febrile illness lasting five to seven days, requiring only regular doses of acetaminophen (paracetamol) and oral fluids as treatment.

Renal failure

However dengue fever can sometimes result in serious illness with pain behind the eyes, severe vomiting, abnormal bleeding and dizziness. Dengue hemorrhagic fever and acute renal failure are complications of dengue fever and can lead to death.

The Ministry of Health said that the Hospital Services Programme in response to the increased need to admit persons with moderate dengue fever, will use all available beds in the public system including some of those at the Argyle Isolation Facility.

“One section of this facility, which is designed for the management of persons with infectious diseases, will be used for patients with suspected dengue fever who require rehydration and observation.

Exposure

Another section will be reserved to accommodate any Covid-19 patients who may present in the future,” it said, reminding the public of the importance of reducing their exposure to the mosquito that causes dengue by adopting several measures including reducing the breeding of the mosquito by discarding or covering properly collected water.

The ministry is urging people with symptoms of dengue fever to seek medical care early in the course of their illness as rapid worsening can occur.

“Increased fogging by the Vector Control Unit continues with a focus on schools and health facilities. De-bushing around schools started before the beginning of the new school term and will continue,” the ministry said.