Epidemiologist concerned about
turnover time for dengue results
PHILIPSBURG--The National Epidemiologist for the Netherlands Antilles Izzy Gerstenbluth is concerned about the lengthy turnover time in getting lab results for dengue fever in all Netherlands Antilles islands outside Curaçao.
St. Maarten has already acted on this concern. St. Maarten Laboratory Services (SLS) has introduced a new laboratory form for dengue testing, which will enable Dutch side health officials to get immediate results for laboratory tests carried out by SLS rather than having to send them to Curaçao or the lab on the French side, as was done in the past.
Earlier last month, the epidemiologist had also expressed concerns about the delay in reporting stereotypes that are currently circulating in the Netherlands Antilles, as multiple stereotypes increase the risk for dengue haemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome. There are currently more than one stereotypes circulating in St. Maarten.
In a written correspondence to Health authorities in the Netherlands Antilles dated October 10, the epidemiologist said the turnover time for obtaining dengue results in islands outside of Curaçao is “unacceptable.”
Gerstenbluth said in the interest of adequate surveillance and timely public health actions regarding prevention, it was imperative to that the delays be reduced to acceptable levels.
“In addition to the time delay, I must also report that there are problems in acquiring data on the stereotypes that are currently circulating,” she said in the correspondence, adding that at the time of her correspondence, requests to ADC- Curaçao for lab results from St. Maarten have proven futile. “It appears that for sometime now in contrast to previous standings agreed on procedures, the samples are not kept under suitable storage to allow for adequate follow up investigations. “This is very disturbing and highly unacceptable.”
In the correspondence, the epidemiologist called on the islands to take measures to stem the outbreak.
In the meantime, St. Maarten has stepped up its public awareness campaign and anti-dengue campaign which includes a house-to-house inspection.
There are recurring complaints from the public about the lack of fogging. However, authorities have stressed that it is not wise to fog constantly as this results in the aedes aegypti mosquito, which transmits dengue, becoming immune to the insecticide. Fogging also cannot be done during unfavourable weather conditions such as in rainy weather.
Last week, authorities announced that some 115 dengue cases have been recorded for October. Authorities also said that this figure was expected to increase, as results from the lab are still pending for another 69 cases.
The previous figures provided by The Dengue Action Response Team (DART) had shown that there were 90 confirmed cases of dengue for the period October 1-25, with 48 lab tests pending. The latest figures indicate a sharp increase in both lab-confirmed cases and the number of tests conducted during the last week of October.
DART also reiterated the importance of an all-out community effort to eliminate the aedes aegypti mosquito and thereby halt the spread of dengue. The organisation has called on every household to take immediate measures to prevent mosquito breeding.
