Two new cases of dengue reported
Two new cases of dengue fever have been confirmed in the Cayman Islands, bringing the total number of locally transmitted cases to four.
According to a statement from the Public Health Department, since its last public update on 18 Oct., the Caribbean Public Health Agency confirmed the two new cases, one of whcih was imported and the other locally contracted.
Of the total confirmed cases, four have been imported and four have been transmitted locally. All the cases have been distributed between East End and George Town, health officials reported.
Since the start of the year, Cayman has sent 96 samples to CARPHA to be investigated for dengue, the Public Health Department stated. Of that number, 26 people were admitted to the Cayman Islands Hospital after showing clinical symptoms that might potentially be dengue.
One case was confirmed to be dengue in July and two more in August. In those cases, the patients had recently travelled to countries where dengue is endemic year-round.
“The Public Health Department’s Surveillance Unit continues to deploy systematic and enhanced surveillance measures, working closely with government and private sector physicians to review reports of suspected dengue,” the statement read.
Dengue is an infectious disease that causes cyclical outbreaks every three years or so, and is transmitted through the bite of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. Symptoms may come on as early as four days or as late as three weeks following an infection.
There is no vaccine or specific medication to treat dengue.
The Public Health Department advises people travelling to countries where dengue is transmitted year-round to take preventative measures, such as using a repellent, wearing protective clothing, and staying indoors during early dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.
The symptoms of dengue include high fever, headache, pain behind the eyes, joint and muscle pain, and rash. Anyone with those symptoms should go to the nearest health centre or hospital. It is advised to drink lots of liquids and avoid medication that contains Aspirin.
Of the total confirmed cases, four have been imported and four have been transmitted locally. All the cases have been distributed between East End and George Town, health officials reported.
Since the start of the year, Cayman has sent 96 samples to CARPHA to be investigated for dengue, the Public Health Department stated. Of that number, 26 people were admitted to the Cayman Islands Hospital after showing clinical symptoms that might potentially be dengue.
One case was confirmed to be dengue in July and two more in August. In those cases, the patients had recently travelled to countries where dengue is endemic year-round.
“The Public Health Department’s Surveillance Unit continues to deploy systematic and enhanced surveillance measures, working closely with government and private sector physicians to review reports of suspected dengue,” the statement read.
Dengue is an infectious disease that causes cyclical outbreaks every three years or so, and is transmitted through the bite of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. Symptoms may come on as early as four days or as late as three weeks following an infection.
There is no vaccine or specific medication to treat dengue.
The Public Health Department advises people travelling to countries where dengue is transmitted year-round to take preventative measures, such as using a repellent, wearing protective clothing, and staying indoors during early dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.
The symptoms of dengue include high fever, headache, pain behind the eyes, joint and muscle pain, and rash. Anyone with those symptoms should go to the nearest health centre or hospital. It is advised to drink lots of liquids and avoid medication that contains Aspirin.
