Dengue deaths in Barbados still concerning officials

Barbados health authorities confirm 135 cases of dengue fever and one death this year.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Monday April 11, 2011 – Health authorities in Barbados have renewed their call for public vigilance following at least one death linked to the dreaded dengue fever this year.

A recent release issued by the Ministry of Health has revealed that over the first nine weeks of this year, 135 cases of dengue fever were confirmed by laboratory testing and one death was recorded.

The ministry also revealed that 570 cases of dengue fever and four deaths were recorded in 2010. This compares to 2008, when during the first nine weeks of the year, two deaths were verified and 212 cases were documented, following an epidemic in 2007.

In an effort to control the spread of dengue fever, the Ministry of Health has urged Barbadians to guard against contracting the illness or harbouring mosquitoes on their premises.

“If you are experiencing symptoms such as sudden high fever, severe headaches, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain; or the symptoms of dengue haemorrhagic fever, such as bleeding from the nose, mouth and gums, frequent vomiting or difficulty breathing, seek medical attention at once,” was the plea issued by the health officials. 

The ministry also encouraged the public to continue playing its part in the fight against the mosquito-borne disease by checking premises for possible mosquito breeding places and mitigating the risk by either covering over or disposing containers that could hold water such as buckets, small plastic containers and drums.

The Ministry of Health also encouraged Barbadians to reach out to it or their nearest polyclinic in order to receive more information on dengue fever prevention or controlling the growth of the aedes aegypti mosquito responsible for its spread.

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