Experts confirm start of
new outbreak of dengue
~ St. Martin in vigilance phase ~
MARIGOT--Health experts have concluded that collated information produced by local authorities and Institute Veille de Sanitaire (INVS) confirms St. Martin is at the beginning of a fresh outbreak of dengue, that effectively began ten days ago and urges preventative treatments be “rigorously” implemented.
In a release issued by the Préfecture Thursday, La Cellule Inter-Régionale d’Epidémiologie (CIRE) of Antilles-Guyana met with the Committee of Experts for Infectious Diseases in the Northern Islands on Wednesday to analyse the current situation.
The release contained no statistics or figures, but went on to say “given the favourable climatic conditions for development of mosquitoes, preventative measures already known by the population must be implemented without delay and in a rigorous manner. It is at this early stage that preventative measures can be most effective.”
In accordance with this information, an intensive fogging campaign begins as of today, Friday. It is advised to leave house doors and windows open when the truck passes for the chemical to be most effective.
The dengue management committee is due to meet again on October 16 to assess the local situation.
The Préfecture of St. Martin and St. Barths once again reminds the population of the action to be taken to prevent the spread of dengue which is transmitted by the aedes aegypti mosquito.
Anti-mosquito sprays and creams should be used liberally. Wear long sleeved shirts and long pants in the evenings. Make sure mosquito screens are installed on windows and doors. Young children, babies and elderly persons should sleep under mosquito netting.
Throw out any stagnant water collecting in flower vases, or other receptacles, around the house or in the yard and make sure rain gutters are unblocked after heavy rainfall. Stagnant pools of water are prime breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
Cisterns must be covered with mosquito netting. It is also encouraged to breed Guppy fish which feed on mosquito larvae. Check the septic tank is functioning properly.
Dengue, similar to a serious flu, is manifested by the onset of severe headache, muscle and joint pain, often accompanied by fever, chills, and fatigue, and can last several weeks. It is recommended to consult one’s doctor who may recommend a blood test.
Currently there is no specific treatment or vaccine for dengue.
