Anne Ross Library Blog

Dengue Watch on St. Kitts

With almost 50 reported cases of Dengue Fever in St. Maarten and a few cases confirmed in St. Kitts, it is important for everyone to take measures now to prevent the further spread of this infectious disease!
Dengue viruses are mosquito-borne, transmitted during the mosquitos feeding process. The disease is NOT transmitted human-to-human! Kill the mosquitos and you kill the dengue virus!

Notes for Healthcare Professionals:

Classic Dengue Fever or "break bone fever" is characterized by acute onset of high fever, 3-14 days after the bite of an infected mosquito. Patients develop frontal headache, retro-orbital pain, myalgias, arthralgias, nausea, vomiting, and often a maculopapular rash. Many patients notice a change in taste sensation. Acute symptoms, when present, usually last about 1 week, but weakness, malaise, and anorexia may persist for several weeks. A high proportion of infections produce no or minimal symptoms, especially in children. Treatment emphasizes relief of symptoms, avoiding aspirin and other non steroidal anti-inflamatory medications and encouraging oral fluid intake. Yellow Fever can be distinguished from Dengue by the presence of jaundice.

Nov 28/08 UPDATE: Dengue confirmed

"The public is being asked to assist with eradication of dengue-carrying mosquitoes after blood tests sent to the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC) in Barbados confirmed there are over two dozen positive cases of dengue fever in St. Kitts/Nevis...It is further reported that notifications of clinical cases continue to be received at the Ministry’s Health Information Unit which means that the mosquito that spreads the dengue viruses remains highly active."

Labels: Aedes Aegypti, dengue fever, DHF, disease outbreak, infectious diseases, St. Kitts

posted by Ann Celestine @ 10:27 AM